Photo: Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois · CC BY-SA 2.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Highland Park than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Highland Park gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #161 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 84 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 Highland Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Highland 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 Highland Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Highland Park, and Highland Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #161 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Highland Park’s residents live in 10 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, Highland Park has less expected damage per building than 79% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $14.0M a year in losses across Highland Park: $10.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Highland Park flood? Sometimes: 84 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Highland Park, from FEMA’s records: 6.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike6 claims · $21K
- The Mid-spring storms3 claims · $13K
Highland Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Lake County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Highland Park
Disasters that paid out in Highland Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Highland Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding14 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$8K to the City of Highland Park for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$124K to the City of Highland Park for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$71K to the City of Highland Park for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$53K to the City of Highland Park for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$31K to the City of Highland Park 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 Highland Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Highland Park archive →Highland Park and its neighbors
Highland Park 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highwood | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Glencoe | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Moraine Township | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Lake Forest | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Highland Park | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| New Trier Township | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 352 |
| Bannockburn | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Deerfield | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 135 |
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 Highland 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.
- Highland Park residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Highland Park
Is Highland Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Highland Park has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #161 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Highland Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 84 claims in Highland Park since 1978, $559K in all, or 6.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (6).
Is Highland 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 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 Highland Park?
Highland Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Highland Park?
By FEMA money that reached Highland Park, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $124K to the City of Highland Park for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 6 paid, $21K.
Is Highland Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Highland Park’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Highland Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Highland 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.