Photo: Nmaviano · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Riverside than in 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Riverside gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #640 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 130 claims here since 1982.
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 stands out about Riverside’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Riverside 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 Riverside’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Riverside, and Riverside’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #640 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Riverside’s 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, Riverside has more expected damage per building than 83% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.2M a year in losses across Riverside: $5.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Riverside flood? Yes: 130 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Riverside, from FEMA’s records: 33.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike42 claims · $1.2M
- The Mid-spring storms39 claims · $1.6M
Riverside 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 Riverside
Disasters that paid out in Riverside itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Riverside), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng18 households applied for aid$56K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding93 households applied for aid$317K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding175 households applied for aid$370K aid approved39 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$22K to the Village of Riverside for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding320 households applied for aid$881K aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding85 households applied for aid$238K aid approved$60K to the Village of Riverside for repairs43 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$10K to the Village of Riverside for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$19K to the Village of Riverside 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 Riverside after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Riverside archive →Riverside and its neighbors
Riverside is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookfield | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Lyons Township | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 185 |
| North Riverside | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Riverside | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 130 |
| Riverside Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 184 |
| Lyons | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
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 Riverside 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 Riverside
Is Riverside at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Riverside has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #640 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Riverside flood?
Flood insurance has paid 130 claims in Riverside since 1982, $3.2M in all, or 33.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 35 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (42).
Is Riverside 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 Riverside?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Riverside’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 Riverside?
By FEMA money that reached Riverside, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 320 households applied for aid, $881K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 42 paid, $1.2M.
Is Riverside at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Riverside’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Riverside.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Riverside’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.