Photo: Digital Bookmobile · CC BY 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Palos Heights than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palos Heights gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #708 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 9 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 Palos Heights 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 Palos Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palos Heights, and Palos Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
D #708 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Palos Heights’ residents live in 6 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, Palos Heights has more expected damage per building than 92% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.7M a year in losses across Palos Heights: $6.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palos Heights flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palos Heights, from FEMA’s records: 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Palos Heights 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 Palos Heights
Disasters that paid out in Palos Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Palos Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng16 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$900 aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding40 households applied for aid$167K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding8 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the City of Palos Heights for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding22 households applied for aid$70K aid approved
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$10K to the City of Palos Heights for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$13K to the City of Palos Heights 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 Palos Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palos Heights archive →Palos Heights and its neighbors
Palos Heights is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palos Park | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Worth | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Palos Heights | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Palos Hills | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
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 Palos Heights 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 Palos Heights
Is Palos Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palos Heights has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #708 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palos Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Palos Heights since 1978, $35K in all, or 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Palos Heights 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 Palos Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Palos Heights’ 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 Palos Heights?
By FEMA money that reached Palos Heights, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): 40 households applied for aid, $167K approved.
Is Palos Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Palos Heights’ rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palos Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palos Heights’ 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.