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CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Round Lake Heights · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Round Lake Heights faces more hazard damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Round Lake Heights gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #545 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1993.

River and rain flooding 92%Tornadoes 6%

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

more than 69%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#545 of 768 in Illinois
Hazard risk
C#545 of 768
in Illinois · higher than 69% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
92% of expected building damage
Flood claims
11
paid since 1993 · $152K
Flooded more than once
2
properties · 2 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
6
of 14 declared for Lake County
By hazard

What Round Lake 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

92%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

6%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Hail Strong wind Earthquakes Lightning Hurricanes Wildfire Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 17% of Round Lake Heights’ expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Round Lake Heights’ grade

River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Round Lake Heights, and Round Lake Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Round Lake Heights sits
Round Lake Heights
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C #545 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Round Lake Heights’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding92%Tornadoes6%Everything else2%

The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Round Lake Heights has more expected damage per building than 71% of Illinois towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $942K a year in losses across Round Lake Heights: $632K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Round Lake Heights covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Round Lake Heights flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1993

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Round Lake Heights, from FEMA’s records: 13.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1993: 2 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 2 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 2 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 1 claim2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 3 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199319962017
19932026
Biggest named events
  • The Midwest Flooding2 claims · $25K
11
paid claims since 1993
$152K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$14K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Round Lake 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: Lake County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
3flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Round Lake Heights

Disasters that paid out in Round Lake Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Round Lake Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$430 aid approved
  2. 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Village of Round Lake Heights for repairs
  3. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$76K to the Village of Round Lake Heights for repairs
  4. 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$6K to the Village of Round Lake Heights for repairs
  5. 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$3K to the Village of Round Lake Heights for repairs
  6. 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$2K to the Village of Round Lake Heights for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Round Lake HeightsLake County only

Lake County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Were you here?

Old photos of Round Lake Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Round Lake Heights archive →
Next door

Round Lake Heights and its neighbors

Round Lake Heights is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Long Lake: hazard risk CRound Lake Beach: hazard risk CLake Villa: hazard risk B−Long LakeRound Lake BeachLake VillaRound Lake Heights
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Lake VillaB−less damage than 52%river and rain flooding8
Round Lake BeachCmore damage than 68%river and rain flooding112
Round Lake HeightsCmore damage than 69%river and rain flooding11
Long LakeCmore damage than 73%river and rain flooding14

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Round Lake 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.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Round Lake Heights

Is Round Lake Heights at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Round Lake Heights has higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #545 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 Round Lake Heights flood?

Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Round Lake Heights since 1993, $152K in all, or 13.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (2).

Is Round Lake 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 Lake County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Round Lake Heights?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Round Lake 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 Round Lake Heights?

By FEMA money that reached Round Lake Heights, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 1 households applied for aid, $0 approved, and $76K to the Village of Round Lake Heights for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 2 paid, $25K.

Is Round Lake Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Round Lake Heights’ rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Round Lake Heights.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Round Lake 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.