FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Tower Lakes than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tower Lakes gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Tower Lakes 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
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 Tower Lakes’ grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tower Lakes, and Tower Lakes’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tower Lakes’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Tower Lakes: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tower Lakes flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Tower Lakes. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Tower Lakes 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.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tower Lakes
Disasters that paid out in Tower Lakes itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Tower Lakes), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$771 to the Village of Tower Lakes for repairs
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.
Old photos of Tower Lakes after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tower Lakes archive →Tower Lakes and its neighbors
Tower Lakes is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Barrington | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Tower Lakes | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
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 Tower Lakes 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.
- 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 Tower Lakes
Is Tower Lakes at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tower Lakes has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Tower Lakes 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 Tower Lakes?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tower Lakes’ 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 Tower Lakes?
By FEMA money that reached Tower Lakes, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): 1 households applied for aid, $1K approved.
Is Tower Lakes at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Tower Lakes’ rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tower Lakes.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tower Lakes’ 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.