Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Passenger Depot · Photo: Teemu08 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Deerfield’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Deerfield gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #620 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 135 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 Deerfield’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Deerfield 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 Deerfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Deerfield, and Deerfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #620 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Deerfield’s residents live in 8 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, Deerfield has more expected damage per building than 81% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.9M a year in losses across Deerfield: $11.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Deerfield flood? Yes: 135 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Deerfield, from FEMA’s records: 17.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms4 claims · $39K
- Hurricane Ike1 claim · $1K
Deerfield is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Lake County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Deerfield
Disasters that paid out in Deerfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Deerfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding12 households applied for aid$21K aid approved$6K to the Village of Deerfield for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$51K to the Village of Deerfield for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$29K to the Village of Deerfield for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$35K to the Village of Deerfield for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Lake County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Deerfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Deerfield archive →Deerfield and its neighbors
Deerfield is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Park | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Northbrook | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 80 |
| Riverwoods | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Bannockburn | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Deerfield | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 135 |
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 Deerfield 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.
- Deerfield residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Deerfield
Is Deerfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Deerfield has higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #620 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Deerfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 135 claims in Deerfield since 1978, $1.4M in all, or 17.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (4).
Is Deerfield 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 Lake County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Deerfield?
Deerfield is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Deerfield?
By FEMA money that reached Deerfield, Record Snow and Near Record Snow (2008): $51K to the Village of Deerfield for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 4 paid, $39K.
Is Deerfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Deerfield’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Deerfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Deerfield’s 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.