Photo: author: Joseph E. Lobocki · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Rolling Meadows 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, Rolling Meadows gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #318 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 23 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 Rolling Meadows 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 Rolling Meadows’ grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rolling Meadows, and Rolling Meadows’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #318 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rolling Meadows’ residents live in 12 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, Rolling Meadows has less expected damage per building than 59% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.4M a year in losses across Rolling Meadows: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rolling Meadows flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rolling Meadows, from FEMA’s records: 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike4 claims · $538K
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $4K
Rolling Meadows 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 Rolling Meadows
Disasters that paid out in Rolling Meadows itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rolling Meadows), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$39K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$9K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$42K to the City of Rolling Meadows for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding26 households applied for aid$64K aid approved$33K to the City of Rolling Meadows for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$56K to the City of Rolling Meadows for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$25K to the City of Rolling Meadows for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$32K to the City of Rolling Meadows 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 Rolling Meadows after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rolling Meadows archive →Rolling Meadows and its neighbors
Rolling Meadows is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schaumburg | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Palatine | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Palatine Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| Arlington Heights | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Rolling Meadows | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Wheeling Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 378 |
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 Rolling Meadows 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 Rolling Meadows
Is Rolling Meadows at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rolling Meadows has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #318 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rolling Meadows flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Rolling Meadows since 1979, $738K in all, or 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (4).
Is Rolling Meadows 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 Rolling Meadows?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rolling Meadows’ 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 Rolling Meadows?
By FEMA money that reached Rolling Meadows, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 26 households applied for aid, $64K approved, and $33K to the City of Rolling Meadows for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 4 paid, $538K.
Is Rolling Meadows at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Rolling Meadows’ rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rolling Meadows.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rolling Meadows’ 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.