Photo: Village of Oak Lawn · CC BY 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Oak Lawn than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oak Lawn gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #736 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 44 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 Oak Lawn 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
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 Oak Lawn’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oak Lawn, and Oak Lawn’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D #736 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oak Lawn’s residents live in 16 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, Oak Lawn has more expected damage per building than 96% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $40.4M a year in losses across Oak Lawn: $27.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oak Lawn flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oak Lawn, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms2 claims · $25K
- Hurricane Ike1 claim · $42K
Oak Lawn 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 Oak Lawn
Disasters that paid out in Oak Lawn itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Oak Lawn), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng166 households applied for aid$392K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding43 households applied for aid$40K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding306 households applied for aid$726K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding143 households applied for aid$335K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$175K to the Village of Oak Lawn for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding217 households applied for aid$489K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 10
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding59 households applied for aid$48K aid approved$67K to the Village of Oak Lawn for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$59K to the Village of Oak Lawn for repairs
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$50K to the Village of Oak Lawn for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$53K to the Village of Oak Lawn 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 Oak Lawn after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oak Lawn archive →Oak Lawn and its neighbors
Oak Lawn is 8th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 550 |
| Bridgeview | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Hometown | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Burbank | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Stickney Township | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Alsip | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Worth Township | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 102 |
| Oak Lawn | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Chicago Ridge | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
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 Oak Lawn 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.
- 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 Oak Lawn
Is Oak Lawn at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oak Lawn has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #736 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oak Lawn flood?
Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in Oak Lawn since 1978, $611K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (2).
Is Oak Lawn 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 Oak Lawn?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oak Lawn’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 Oak Lawn?
By FEMA money that reached Oak Lawn, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): 306 households applied for aid, $726K approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 2 paid, $25K.
Is Oak Lawn at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Oak Lawn’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oak Lawn.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oak Lawn’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.