More hazard damage per building is expected in Leyden Township than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leyden Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #467 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 960 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 Leyden Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Leyden Township 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 Leyden Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Leyden Township, and Leyden Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #467 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Leyden Township’s residents live in 20 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, Leyden Township has more expected damage per building than 61% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $49.5M a year in losses across Leyden Township: $28.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Leyden Township flood? Yes: 960 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Leyden Township, from FEMA’s records: 27.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms207 claims · $5.6M
- Hurricane Ike176 claims · $3.9M
Leyden Township 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.The storms Leyden Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Cook County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Leyden Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 2013209 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, declared for Cook County
- 2008185 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Cook County
- 1987139 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Cook County
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 Leyden Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Leyden Township archive →Leyden Township and its neighbors
Leyden Township is 9th of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosemont | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Norridge | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Schiller Park | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 126 |
| Elmwood Park | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Chicago | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 550 |
| Maine Township | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 1,481 |
| Park Ridge | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 104 |
| Des Plaines | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1,221 |
| Leyden Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 960 |
| Franklin Park | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 257 |
| Proviso Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 2,580 |
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 Leyden Township 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 Leyden Township
Is Leyden Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leyden Township has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #467 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Leyden Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 960 claims in Leyden Township since 1978, $18.2M in all, or 27.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (207).
Is Leyden Township 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 Leyden Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Leyden Township’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 Leyden Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 207 paid, $5.6M.
Is Leyden Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Leyden Township’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Leyden Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Leyden Township’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.