FEMA puts Ela Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ela Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #82 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 1979.
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 Ela Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ela Township 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 Ela Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ela Township, and Ela Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #82 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ela Township’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, Ela Township has less expected damage per building than 89% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.2M a year in losses across Ela Township: $12.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ela Township flood? Sometimes: 22 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ela Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $36K
- The Midwest Flooding1 claim · $3K
- Hurricane Ike1 claim · $19K
Ela Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lake County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Ela Township
Disasters that paid out in Ela Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Ela Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$8K to Ela Township for repairs
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 Ela Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ela Township archive →Ela Township and its neighbors
Ela Township is 4th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fremont Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Hawthorn Woods | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Barrington | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Ela Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| North Barrington | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Deer Park | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Palatine Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| Vernon Township | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 73 |
| Cuba Township | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 60 |
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 Ela Township 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 Ela Township
Is Ela Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ela Township has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #82 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ela Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 22 claims in Ela Township since 1979, $226K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (1).
Is Ela Township 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 Ela Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ela Township’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 Ela Township?
By FEMA money that reached Ela Township, Il-winter Storm 1/1/99 (1999): $8K to Ela Township for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 1 paid, $36K.
Is Ela Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Ela Township’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ela Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ela Township’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.