Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Skokie 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, Skokie gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #246 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 240 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 stands out about Skokie’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Skokie 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 Skokie’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Skokie, and Skokie’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 11% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
B #246 of 768 in Illinois; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Skokie’s residents live in 14 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, Skokie has less expected damage per building than 68% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $30.6M a year in losses across Skokie: $15.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Skokie flood? Yes: 240 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Skokie, from FEMA’s records: 9.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms10 claims · $66K
- Hurricane Ike9 claims · $27K
Skokie 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Skokie
Disasters that paid out in Skokie itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Skokie), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng31 households applied for aid$103K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding17 households applied for aid$46K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding87 households applied for aid$278K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding941 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved13 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$136K to the Village of Skokie for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding104 households applied for aid$189K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding790 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$145K to the Village of Skokie for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$98K to the Village of Skokie for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$34K to the Village of Skokie for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$75K to the Village of Skokie 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 Skokie after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Skokie archive →Skokie and its neighbors
Skokie is 3rd of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evanston | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Niles | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| Skokie | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 240 |
| Lincolnwood | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Niles Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 313 |
| Chicago | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 550 |
| New Trier Township | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 352 |
| Wilmette | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 95 |
| Morton Grove | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Glenview | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 225 |
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 Skokie 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 Skokie
Is Skokie at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Skokie has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #246 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 Skokie flood?
Flood insurance has paid 240 claims in Skokie since 1979, $1.3M in all, or 9.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 25 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (10).
Is Skokie 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 Skokie?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Skokie’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 Skokie?
By FEMA money that reached Skokie, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): 941 households applied for aid, $1.6M approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 10 paid, $66K.
Is Skokie at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Skokie’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Skokie.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Skokie’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.