Photo: AlphaBeta135 · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Hometown as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hometown gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #408 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). 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 Hometown 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 Hometown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hometown, and Hometown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #408 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hometown’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Hometown has more expected damage per building than 53% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Hometown: $606K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hometown flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Hometown. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Hometown 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hometown
Disasters that paid out in Hometown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hometown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding13 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$788 aid approved
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$4K to the City of Hometown for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$5K to the City of Hometown 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 Hometown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hometown archive →Hometown and its neighbors
Hometown has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hometown | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Oak Lawn | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
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 Hometown 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 Hometown
Is Hometown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hometown has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #408 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and tornadoes (9%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Hometown 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 Hometown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hometown’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 Hometown?
By FEMA money that reached Hometown, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): 13 households applied for aid, $9K approved.
Is Hometown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Hometown’s rate for it is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hometown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hometown’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.