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OrlandSquareMallOutside January2020Photo: Jack Ryan Morris · Public domain
BHazard risk
Natural hazards in Orland Park · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Orland Park 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, Orland Park gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #261 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 53 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

less than 56%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#261 of 768 in Illinois
Hazard risk
B#261 of 768
in Illinois · lower than 56% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
83% of expected building damage
Flood claims
53
paid since 1979 · $807K
Flooded more than once
6
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
9
of 21 declared for Cook County
By hazard

What Orland 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

83%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

11%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Hail Ice storms Strong wind Winter 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 Orland Park’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 Orland Park’s grade

River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Orland Park, and Orland Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 11% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Orland Park sits
Orland Park
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B #261 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Orland Park’s residents live in 19 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding83%Tornadoes11%Earthquakes4%Everything else2%

The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Orland Park has less expected damage per building than 66% of Illinois towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $29.4M a year in losses across Orland Park: $16.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 19 census tracts by where Orland Park’s 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 Orland Park flood? Sometimes: 53 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Orland Park, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 2 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 10 claims1982: 11 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 1 claim1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 19 claims1997: 3 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 1 claim2002: 0 claims2003: 3 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198119821996
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Ike1 claim · $50K
53
paid claims since 1979
$807K
paid to owners
6
homes flooded more than once
$15K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Orland Park 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

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Orland Park

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

  1. 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng90 households applied for aid$191K aid approved
  2. 2023Severe Storms and Flooding25 households applied for aid$120K aid approved
  3. 2023Severe Storms and Flooding108 households applied for aid$231K aid approved
  4. 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding41 households applied for aid$63K aid approved
  5. 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$149K to the Village of Orland Park for repairs
  6. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding54 households applied for aid$111K aid approved
Show all 9
  1. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding25 households applied for aid$31K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$50K to the Village of Orland Park for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$61K to the Village of Orland Park for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Orland ParkCook 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 Orland Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Orland Park archive →
Next door

Orland Park and its neighbors

Orland Park is 3rd of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Orland HillsBless damage than 64%river and rain flooding8
Homer TownshipBless damage than 60%river and rain flooding47
Orland ParkBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding53
Homer GlenBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding3
Orland TownshipB−less damage than 54%river and rain flooding48
Frankfort TownshipB−less damage than 52%river and rain flooding41
Tinley ParkB−more damage than 51%river and rain flooding37
Oak ForestB−more damage than 54%river and rain flooding77
Palos ParkC+more damage than 62%river and rain flooding10

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 Orland 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.

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 Orland Park

Is Orland Park at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Orland Park has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #261 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Orland Park flood?

Flood insurance has paid 53 claims in Orland Park since 1979, $807K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (1).

Is Orland 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 Orland Park?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Orland Park’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 Orland Park?

By FEMA money that reached Orland Park, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): 108 households applied for aid, $231K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 1 paid, $50K.

Is Orland Park at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Orland Park’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Orland Park.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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