Photo: David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Park Forest as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Park Forest gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #361 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1981.
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 Park Forest 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 Park Forest’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Park Forest, and Park Forest’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 11% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #361 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Park Forest’s residents live in 7 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, Park Forest has less expected damage per building than 53% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.0M a year in losses across Park Forest: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Park Forest flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Park Forest, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Park Forest 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Park Forest
Disasters that paid out in Park Forest itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Park Forest), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng735 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding244 households applied for aid$505K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding980 households applied for aid$3.2M aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes4 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding627 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$42K to the Village of Park Forest for repairs
Show all 11
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding539 households applied for aid$850K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding550 households applied for aid$539K aid approved$4K to the Village of Park Forest for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$11K to the Village of Park Forest for repairs
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$19K to the Village of Park Forest for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$21K to the Village of Park Forest 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 Park Forest after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Park Forest archive →Park Forest and its neighbors
Park Forest is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Heights | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Olympia Fields | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| University Park | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Monee Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Park Forest | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Richton Park | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Matteson | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
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 Park Forest 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 Park Forest
Is Park Forest at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Park Forest has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #361 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Park Forest flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Park Forest since 1981, $18K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Park Forest 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 Park Forest?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Park Forest’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 Park Forest?
By FEMA money that reached Park Forest, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): 980 households applied for aid, $3.2M approved.
Is Park Forest at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Park Forest’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Park Forest.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Park Forest’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.