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Herbert A. Dilg HouseHerbert A. Dilg House · Photo: Zol87 from Chicago, Illinois, USA · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Morton Grove · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Morton Grove faces more hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morton Grove gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #492 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 30 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 88%Tornadoes 8%Earthquakes 3%

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

more than 64%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#492 of 768 in Illinois
Hazard risk
C+#492 of 768
in Illinois · higher than 64% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
88% of expected building damage
Flood claims
30
paid since 1978 · $134K
Flooded more than once
3
properties
Disasters paid out here
10
of 21 declared for Cook County
By hazard

What Morton Grove 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

88%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

8%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Hail Strong wind Winter storms Ice storms Hurricanes Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 26% of Morton Grove’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Morton Grove’s grade

River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Morton Grove, and Morton Grove’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Morton Grove sits
Morton Grove
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #492 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Morton Grove’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding88%Tornadoes8%Everything else4%

The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Morton Grove has more expected damage per building than 64% of Illinois towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.1M a year in losses across Morton Grove: $7.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Morton Grove covers 6 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Morton Grove flood? Sometimes: 30 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Morton Grove, from FEMA’s records: 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 3 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 8 claims1982: 1 claim1983: 1 claim1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 4 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 1 claim1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 3 claims2009: 1 claim2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 5 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 1 claim2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198119872013
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The Mid-spring storms2 claims · $13K
  • Hurricane Ike1 claim · $5K
30
paid claims since 1978
$134K
paid to owners
3
homes flooded more than once
$4K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Morton Grove 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.
Disasters

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Morton Grove

Disasters that paid out in Morton Grove itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Morton Grove), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng12 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
  2. 2023Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
  3. 2023Severe Storms and Flooding19 households applied for aid$25K aid approved
  4. 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding311 households applied for aid$723K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$88K to the Village of Morton Grove for repairs
  6. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding25 households applied for aid$60K aid approved
Show all 10
  1. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding280 households applied for aid$667K aid approved$28K to the Village of Morton Grove for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$87K to the Village of Morton Grove for repairs
  3. 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$63K to the Village of Morton Grove for repairs
  4. 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$63K to the Village of Morton Grove for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Morton GroveCook County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Morton Grove after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Morton Grove archive →
Next door

Morton Grove and its neighbors

Morton Grove is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Niles: hazard risk BSkokie: hazard risk BGlenview: hazard risk CNilesSkokieGlenviewMorton Grove
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
NilesBless damage than 62%river and rain flooding58
SkokieBless damage than 58%river and rain flooding240
Morton GroveC+more damage than 64%river and rain flooding30
GlenviewCmore damage than 68%river and rain flooding225

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Morton Grove faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Morton Grove

Is Morton Grove at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morton Grove has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #492 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Morton Grove flood?

Flood insurance has paid 30 claims in Morton Grove since 1978, $134K in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (2).

Is Morton Grove 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 Morton Grove?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Morton Grove’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 Morton Grove?

By FEMA money that reached Morton Grove, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): 311 households applied for aid, $723K approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 2 paid, $13K.

Is Morton Grove at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Morton Grove’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Morton Grove.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Morton Grove’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.