On FEMA’s figures, New Trier Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Trier Township gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #364 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 352 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 New Trier Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What New Trier 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 New Trier Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Trier Township, and New Trier Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #364 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Trier Township’s residents live in 14 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, New Trier Township has less expected damage per building than 53% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $35.0M a year in losses across New Trier Township: $22.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Trier Township flood? Yes: 352 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Trier Township, from FEMA’s records: 16.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms48 claims · $1.2M
- Hurricane Ike46 claims · $1.1M
New Trier 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 New Trier Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Cook County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching New Trier Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201164 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, declared for Cook County
- 201350 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, declared for Cook County
- 200847 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 New Trier Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Trier Township archive →New Trier Township and its neighbors
New Trier 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glencoe | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Kenilworth | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Moraine Township | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Evanston | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Highland Park | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Winnetka | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 138 |
| Skokie | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 240 |
| Niles Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 313 |
| New Trier Township | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 352 |
| Northfield Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 333 |
| Wilmette | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 95 |
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 New Trier 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 New Trier Township
Is New Trier Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Trier Township has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #364 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Trier Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 352 claims in New Trier Township since 1978, $4.3M in all, or 16.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (48).
Is New Trier 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 New Trier Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Trier 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 New Trier Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 48 paid, $1.2M.
Is New Trier Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and New Trier Township’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Trier Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Trier 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.