More hazard damage per building is expected in Dixmoor than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dixmoor gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #751 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 46 claims here since 1987.
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 Dixmoor 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
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 Dixmoor’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dixmoor, and Dixmoor’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #751 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Dixmoor’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Dixmoor has more expected damage per building than 98% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Dixmoor: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dixmoor flood? Sometimes: 46 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dixmoor, from FEMA’s records: 36.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms9 claims · $78K
- Hurricane Ike6 claims · $22K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $3K
Dixmoor 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Dixmoor
Disasters that paid out in Dixmoor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Dixmoor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng86 households applied for aid$470K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding46 households applied for aid$82K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding115 households applied for aid$404K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding139 households applied for aid$255K aid approved9 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding106 households applied for aid$266K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding149 households applied for aid$189K aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
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 Dixmoor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dixmoor archive →Dixmoor and its neighbors
Dixmoor is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremen Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 314 |
| Thornton Township | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 2,023 |
| Riverdale | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Blue Island | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Harvey | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 381 |
| Dixmoor | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
| Posen | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
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 Dixmoor 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.
- 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 Dixmoor
Is Dixmoor at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dixmoor has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #751 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Dixmoor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 46 claims in Dixmoor since 1987, $198K in all, or 36.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (9).
Is Dixmoor 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 Dixmoor?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dixmoor’s 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 Dixmoor?
By FEMA money that reached Dixmoor, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng (2024): 86 households applied for aid, $470K approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 9 paid, $78K.
Is Dixmoor at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Dixmoor’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dixmoor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dixmoor’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.