Photo: Boscophotos · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Olympia Fields 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, Olympia Fields gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #318 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 23 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 Olympia Fields 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 Olympia Fields’ grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Olympia Fields, and Olympia Fields’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 12% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #318 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Olympia Fields’ residents live in 3 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, Olympia Fields has less expected damage per building than 59% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Olympia Fields: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Olympia Fields flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Olympia Fields, from FEMA’s records: 10.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike1 claim · $8K
- The Midwest Flooding1 claim · $4K
Olympia Fields 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Olympia Fields
Disasters that paid out in Olympia Fields itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Olympia Fields), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng170 households applied for aid$464K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding38 households applied for aid$171K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding166 households applied for aid$435K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding143 households applied for aid$281K aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Village of Olympia Fields for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding200 households applied for aid$447K aid approved
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding114 households applied for aid$128K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$6K to the Village of Olympia Fields for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$7K to the Village of Olympia Fields 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 Olympia Fields after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Olympia Fields archive →Olympia Fields and its neighbors
Olympia Fields is 2nd of the 5 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 Heights | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Olympia Fields | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Park Forest | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Matteson | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Flossmoor | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
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 Olympia Fields 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 Olympia Fields
Is Olympia Fields at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Olympia Fields has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #318 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Olympia Fields flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Olympia Fields since 1978, $117K in all, or 10.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (1).
Is Olympia Fields 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 Olympia Fields?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Olympia Fields’ 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 Olympia Fields?
By FEMA money that reached Olympia Fields, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng (2024): 170 households applied for aid, $464K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 1 paid, $8K.
Is Olympia Fields at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Olympia Fields’ rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Olympia Fields.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Olympia Fields’ 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.