Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Dolton than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dolton gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #762 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 294 claims here since 1981.
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 Dolton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Dolton 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 Dolton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dolton, and Dolton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #762 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Dolton’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, Dolton has more expected damage per building than 99% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $16.3M a year in losses across Dolton: $11.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dolton flood? Yes: 294 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dolton, from FEMA’s records: 33.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike105 claims · $650K
- The Mid-spring storms11 claims · $77K
Dolton 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Dolton
Disasters that paid out in Dolton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Dolton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng1,700 households applied for aid$6.2M aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding1,982 households applied for aid$6.0M aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding2,921 households applied for aid$9.1M aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding2,005 households applied for aid$3.1M aid approved11 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$23K to the Village of Dolton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding1,988 households applied for aid$5.2M aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding1,917 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved111 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$34K to the Village of Dolton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$22K to the Village of Dolton for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$28K to the Village of Dolton for repairs1 flood claim 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 Dolton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dolton archive →Dolton and its neighbors
Dolton is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 550 |
| Calumet City | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 380 |
| Riverdale | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Harvey | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 381 |
| South Holland | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 494 |
| Dolton | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 294 |
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 Dolton 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 Dolton
Is Dolton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dolton has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #762 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Dolton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 294 claims in Dolton since 1981, $1.4M in all, or 33.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 36 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (105).
Is Dolton 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 Dolton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dolton’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 Dolton?
By FEMA money that reached Dolton, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): 2,921 households applied for aid, $9.1M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 105 paid, $650K.
Is Dolton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Dolton’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dolton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dolton’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.