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Elmhurst City CenterPhoto: Dennisyerger84 · CC BY-SA 4.0
CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Elmhurst · FEMA

FEMA puts Elmhurst’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elmhurst gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #521 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 248 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 89%Tornadoes 8%Earthquakes 3%

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

more than 67%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#521 of 768 in Illinois
Hazard risk
C#521 of 768
in Illinois · higher than 67% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
89% of expected building damage
Flood claims
248
paid since 1979 · $3.1M
Flooded more than once
17
properties
Disasters paid out here
11
of 13 declared for DuPage County

What stands out about Elmhurst’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

248 paid flood claims since 1979$3.1M in all; 17 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 79% of U.S. towns.Remembers 1987130 flood claims were paid for 1987 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Elmhurst 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

89%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

8%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Strong wind Hail Lightning Hurricanes Wildfire Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 16% of Elmhurst’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Elmhurst’s grade

River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elmhurst, and Elmhurst’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Elmhurst sits
Elmhurst
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C #521 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Elmhurst’s residents live in 13 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding89%Tornadoes8%Everything else3%

The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Elmhurst has more expected damage per building than 68% of Illinois towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $24.0M a year in losses across Elmhurst: $17.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 13 census tracts by where Elmhurst’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Elmhurst flood? Yes: 248 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elmhurst, from FEMA’s records: 14.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 10 claims1980: 1 claim1981: 0 claims1982: 14 claims1983: 4 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 2 claims1986: 1 claim1987: 130 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 3 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 1 claim2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 4 claims2007: 1 claim2008: 3 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 17 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 45 claims2014: 3 claims2015: 6 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 1 claim2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 2 claims198720102013
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Mid-spring storms45 claims · $903K
  • Hurricane Ike3 claims · $65K
248
paid claims since 1979
$3.1M
paid to owners
17
homes flooded more than once
$13K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Elmhurst isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: DuPage County.
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Elmhurst

Disasters that paid out in Elmhurst itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Elmhurst), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng1 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
  2. 2023Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
  3. 2023Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  4. 2019Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$38K to the City of Elmhurst for repairs
  5. 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding717 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$237K to the City of Elmhurst for repairs45 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$132K to the City of Elmhurst for repairs
Show all 11
  1. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding774 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved
  2. 2010Flooding$9K to the City of Elmhurst for repairs
  3. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding46 households applied for aid$80K aid approved$31K to the City of Elmhurst for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$54K to the City of Elmhurst for repairs
  5. 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$66K to the City of Elmhurst for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in ElmhurstDuPage County only

DuPage County has had 13 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Elmhurst after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Elmhurst archive →
Next door

Elmhurst and its neighbors

Elmhurst is 7th of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Villa Park: hazard risk B+Oakbrook Terrace: hazard risk AAddison: hazard risk A−York Township: hazard risk BProviso Township: hazard risk C−Berkeley: hazard risk B−Northlake: hazard risk C−Oak Brook: hazard risk B+Villa ParkOakbrook TerraceAddisonYork TownshipProviso TownshipBerkeleyNorthlakeOak BrookElmhurst
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Oakbrook TerraceAless damage than 86%river and rain flooding12
AddisonA−less damage than 78%river and rain flooding475
Oak BrookB+less damage than 75%river and rain flooding72
Villa ParkB+less damage than 74%river and rain flooding51
York TownshipBless damage than 60%river and rain flooding516
BerkeleyB−less damage than 50%river and rain flooding2
ElmhurstCmore damage than 67%river and rain flooding248
Proviso TownshipC−more damage than 77%river and rain flooding2,580
NorthlakeC−more damage than 82%river and rain flooding209

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Elmhurst faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Elmhurst

Is Elmhurst at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elmhurst has higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #521 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Elmhurst flood?

Flood insurance has paid 248 claims in Elmhurst since 1979, $3.1M in all, or 14.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 17 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (45).

Is Elmhurst 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 DuPage County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Elmhurst?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elmhurst’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 Elmhurst?

By FEMA money that reached Elmhurst, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): 717 households applied for aid, $2.0M approved, and $237K to the City of Elmhurst for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 45 paid, $903K.

Is Elmhurst at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Elmhurst’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elmhurst.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elmhurst’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.