Photo: Oakus53 · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Lemont than in 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lemont gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #125 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then tornadoes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1982.
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 Lemont 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 Lemont’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lemont, and Lemont’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 14% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #125 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lemont’s residents live in 6 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, Lemont has less expected damage per building than 84% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.7M a year in losses across Lemont: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lemont flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lemont, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lemont 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 Lemont
Disasters that paid out in Lemont itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Lemont), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng8 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding16 households applied for aid$26K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding11 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$59K to the Village of Lemont for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding21 households applied for aid$56K aid approved
Show all 10
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$657 aid approved$3K to the Village of Lemont for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the Village of Lemont for repairs
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$49K to the Village of Lemont for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$46K to the Village of Lemont 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 Lemont after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lemont archive →Lemont and its neighbors
Lemont is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romeoville | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Woodridge | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Lemont | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Lemont Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Downers Grove Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 210 |
| Palos Park | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Willow Springs | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
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 Lemont 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 Lemont
Is Lemont at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lemont has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #125 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and tornadoes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lemont flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Lemont since 1982, $34K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Lemont 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 Lemont?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lemont’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 Lemont?
By FEMA money that reached Lemont, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $59K to the Village of Lemont for repairs.
Is Lemont at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Lemont’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lemont.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lemont’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.