Photo: Wuhazet - Henryk Żychowski · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Elmwood Park as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elmwood Park gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #334 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 82 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 Elmwood Park 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 Elmwood Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elmwood Park, and Elmwood Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #334 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Elmwood Park’s residents live in 5 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, Elmwood Park has less expected damage per building than 57% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.0M a year in losses across Elmwood Park: $4.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elmwood Park flood? Sometimes: 82 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elmwood Park, from FEMA’s records: 8.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms18 claims · $290K
Elmwood Park 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 Elmwood Park
Disasters that paid out in Elmwood Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Elmwood Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng43 households applied for aid$94K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$41K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding214 households applied for aid$784K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding403 households applied for aid$678K aid approved18 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$53K to the Village of Elmwood Park for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding777 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved9 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding62 households applied for aid$67K aid approved$41K to the Village of Elmwood Park for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$85K to the Village of Elmwood Park for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$20K to the Village of Elmwood Park for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$23K to the Village of Elmwood Park for repairs
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 Elmwood Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elmwood Park archive →Elmwood Park and its neighbors
Elmwood Park has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmwood Park | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Chicago | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 550 |
| Leyden Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 960 |
| River Grove | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 115 |
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 Elmwood Park 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 Elmwood Park
Is Elmwood Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elmwood Park has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #334 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elmwood Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 82 claims in Elmwood Park since 1978, $727K in all, or 8.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (18).
Is Elmwood Park 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 Elmwood Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elmwood Park’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 Elmwood Park?
By FEMA money that reached Elmwood Park, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 777 households applied for aid, $2.2M approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 18 paid, $290K.
Is Elmwood Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Elmwood Park’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elmwood Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elmwood Park’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.