Photo: Crosbiesmith · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Palos Park than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palos Park gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #462 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 10 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
What Palos 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
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 Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palos Park, and Palos Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #462 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Palos Park’s residents live in 4 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 Park has more expected damage per building than 60% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Palos Park: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palos Park flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palos Park, from FEMA’s records: 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Palos 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Palos Park
Disasters that paid out in Palos Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Palos Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$49K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$14K to the Village of Palos Park for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$27K aid approved
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$6K to the Village of Palos Park for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$8K to the Village of Palos Park 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 Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palos Park archive →Palos Park and its neighbors
Palos Park is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemont | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Lemont Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Orland Park | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Palos Park | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Palos Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 80 |
| 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 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.
- 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 Park
Is Palos Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palos Park has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #462 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palos Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Palos Park since 1979, $190K in all, or 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Palos 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 Palos Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Palos 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 Palos Park?
By FEMA money that reached Palos Park, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): 15 households applied for aid, $49K approved.
Is Palos Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Palos Park’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palos Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palos 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.