Photo: Dennisyerger84 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Chicago Heights faces less hazard damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chicago Heights gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #199 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%), then tornadoes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 44 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Chicago Heights’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Chicago Heights faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Chicago Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chicago Heights, and Chicago Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 14% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B #199 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chicago Heights’ residents live in 13 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Chicago Heights has less expected damage per building than 74% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.5M a year in losses across Chicago Heights: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chicago Heights flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chicago Heights, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike2 claims · $8K
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $11K
Chicago Heights isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cook County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chicago Heights
Disasters that paid out in Chicago Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Chicago Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng1,015 households applied for aid$2.9M aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding290 households applied for aid$761K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding1,276 households applied for aid$3.6M aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding1,187 households applied for aid$2.3M aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$40K to the City of Chicago Heights for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding633 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding734 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$15K to the City of Chicago Heights for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$77K to the City of Chicago Heights for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$40K to the City of Chicago Heights for repairs
Cook County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Chicago Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chicago Heights archive →Chicago Heights and its neighbors
Chicago Heights is 3rd of the 7 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Chicago Heights | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Steger | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Chicago Heights | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Olympia Fields | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Park Forest | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Flossmoor | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| Glenwood | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Chicago Heights faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Chicago Heights
Is Chicago Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chicago Heights has lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #199 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and tornadoes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chicago Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in Chicago Heights since 1978, $151K in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (2).
Is Chicago Heights in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Cook County, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Chicago Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chicago Heights’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Chicago Heights?
By FEMA money that reached Chicago Heights, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): 1,276 households applied for aid, $3.6M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 2 paid, $8K.
Is Chicago Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Chicago Heights’ rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chicago Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chicago Heights’ residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.