FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Stickney Township than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stickney Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #559 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 30 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 Stickney Township 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 Stickney Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Stickney Township, and Stickney Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C #559 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Stickney Township’s residents live in 8 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, Stickney Township has more expected damage per building than 73% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $24.0M a year in losses across Stickney Township: $14.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Stickney Township flood? Sometimes: 30 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Stickney Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms2 claims · $11K
- Hurricane Ike1 claim · $3K
Stickney Township 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.The storms Stickney Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Cook County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Stickney Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20148 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19966 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Cook County
- 19793 flood claims paidThe year of Blizzards and Snowstorms, declared for Cook County
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 Stickney Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Stickney Township archive →Stickney Township and its neighbors
Stickney Township is 6th of the 9 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 | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 550 |
| Bridgeview | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Burbank | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Summit | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lyons Township | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 185 |
| Stickney Township | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Cicero | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Lyons | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Stickney | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Bedford Park | — | 586 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Forest View | — | not graded yet | |
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 Stickney Township 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 Stickney Township
Is Stickney Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stickney Township has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #559 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Stickney Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 30 claims in Stickney Township since 1979, $323K in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (2).
Is Stickney Township 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 Stickney Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Stickney Township’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 Stickney Township?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 2 paid, $11K.
Is Stickney Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Stickney Township’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Stickney Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Stickney Township’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.