Photo: AlphaBeta135 · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Hainesville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hainesville gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #363 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Hainesville 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 Hainesville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hainesville, and Hainesville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #363 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hainesville’s residents live in 3 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, Hainesville has less expected damage per building than 53% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Hainesville: $673K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hainesville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Hainesville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Hainesville 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hainesville
Disasters that paid out in Hainesville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Hainesville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Village of Hainesville for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$8K to the Village of Hainesville for repairs
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$2K to the Village of Hainesville for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$3K to the Village of Hainesville 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 Hainesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hainesville archive →Hainesville and its neighbors
Hainesville is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grayslake | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Round Lake Park | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hainesville | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
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 Hainesville 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 Hainesville
Is Hainesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hainesville has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #363 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.
Is Hainesville 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 Hainesville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hainesville’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 Hainesville?
By FEMA money that reached Hainesville, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $28K to the Village of Hainesville for repairs.
Is Hainesville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Hainesville’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hainesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hainesville’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.