Storms, floods and disasters in Holiday Hills
Holiday Hills isn’t graded for hazard risk: Holiday Hills has 634 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 36 claims here since 1979.
What Holiday Hills 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.
Does Holiday Hills flood? Sometimes: 36 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Holiday Hills, from FEMA’s records.
- The Mid-spring storms10 claims · $148K
- Tropical Storm Erin1 claim · $7K
Holiday Hills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: McHenry County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Holiday Hills
Disasters that paid out in Holiday Hills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Holiday Hills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding19 households applied for aid$47K aid approved$9K to the Village of Holiday Hills for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$3K to the Village of Holiday Hills for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$851 to the Village of Holiday Hills for repairs
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$1K to the Village of Holiday Hills for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$2K to the Village of Holiday Hills for repairs
McHenry County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Holiday Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Holiday Hills archive →Get ready for what Holiday Hills 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 Holiday Hills
Does Holiday Hills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 36 claims in Holiday Hills since 1979, $335K in all. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (10).
Is Holiday Hills 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 McHenry County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Holiday Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Holiday Hills’ 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 Holiday Hills?
By FEMA money that reached Holiday Hills, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): 19 households applied for aid, $47K approved, and $9K to the Village of Holiday Hills for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 10 paid, $148K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Holiday Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Holiday Hills’ 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.