Photo: Downtowngal · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Elk Grove Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elk Grove Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #285 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 141 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 Elk Grove Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Elk Grove 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 Elk Grove Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elk Grove Township, and Elk Grove Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #285 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Elk Grove Township’s residents live in 17 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, Elk Grove Township has less expected damage per building than 63% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $45.4M a year in losses across Elk Grove Township: $24.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elk Grove Township flood? Yes: 141 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elk Grove Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike14 claims · $723K
- The Mid-spring storms5 claims · $77K
Elk Grove 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: Cook County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Elk Grove Township
Disasters that paid out in Elk Grove Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Elk Grove Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to Elk Grove Township for repairs6 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 Elk Grove Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elk Grove Township archive →Elk Grove Township and its neighbors
Elk Grove Township is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Itasca | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Elk Grove Village | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Schaumburg Township | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 63 |
| Addison Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 845 |
| Elk Grove Township | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 141 |
| Chicago | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 550 |
| Maine Township | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 1,481 |
| Des Plaines | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1,221 |
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 Elk Grove 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 Elk Grove Township
Is Elk Grove Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elk Grove Township has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #285 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elk Grove Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 141 claims in Elk Grove Township since 1978, $3.3M in all, or 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (14).
Is Elk Grove 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 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 Elk Grove Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elk Grove 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 Elk Grove Township?
By FEMA money that reached Elk Grove Township, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): $7K to Elk Grove Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 14 paid, $723K.
Is Elk Grove Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Elk Grove Township’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elk Grove Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elk Grove 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.