Photo: Dennisyerger84 · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Melrose Park faces more hazard damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Melrose Park gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #518 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 374 claims here since 1979.
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 Melrose Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Melrose 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 Melrose Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Melrose Park, and Melrose Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C #518 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Melrose Park’s residents live in 7 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, Melrose Park has more expected damage per building than 67% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $14.2M a year in losses across Melrose Park: $8.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Melrose Park flood? Yes: 374 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Melrose Park, from FEMA’s records: 41.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms67 claims · $943K
- Hurricane Ike27 claims · $251K
Melrose Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Cook County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Melrose Park
Disasters that paid out in Melrose Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Melrose Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng42 households applied for aid$80K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$19K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding84 households applied for aid$257K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding703 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved68 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$57K to the Village of Melrose Park for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding1,714 households applied for aid$5.8M aid approved158 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding280 households applied for aid$601K aid approved$123K to the Village of Melrose Park for repairs29 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$64K to the Village of Melrose Park for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$18K to the Village of Melrose Park for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$49K to the Village of Melrose Park 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 Melrose Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Melrose Park archive →Melrose Park and its neighbors
Melrose Park is 3rd of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| River Grove | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 115 |
| Melrose Park | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 374 |
| Franklin Park | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 257 |
| River Forest | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Maywood | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Proviso Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 2,580 |
| Northlake | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 209 |
| Bellwood | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1,127 |
| Stone Park | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 393 |
| River Forest Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Melrose 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.
- Melrose Park residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Melrose Park
Is Melrose Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Melrose Park has higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #518 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Melrose Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 374 claims in Melrose Park since 1979, $5.2M in all, or 41.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 64 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (67).
Is Melrose 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 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 Melrose Park?
Melrose Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Melrose Park?
By FEMA money that reached Melrose Park, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 1,714 households applied for aid, $5.8M approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 67 paid, $943K.
Is Melrose Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Melrose Park’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Melrose Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Melrose 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.