Natural hazards · Buffalo Grove

Buffalo Grove, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Buffalo Grove comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 1979. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Buffalo Grove?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Buffalo Grove to be higher than in 55% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding59%Cold waves19%Tornadoes14%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Buffalo Grove faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

59% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 77% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Cold waves

19% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 24% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

14% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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

Flood insurance claims

Does Buffalo Grove flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Buffalo Grove, from FEMA’s records.

18paid claims since 1979

$72Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19792026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Buffalo Grove is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Lake County.

Disasters that hit Buffalo Grove

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Buffalo Grove itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Village of Buffalo Grove.

Brought FEMA money into Buffalo GroveDeclared for Lake County only

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

11 households applied for aid $16K aid approved

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$9K to the Village of Buffalo Grove for repairs

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$43K to the Village of Buffalo Grove for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$42K to the Village of Buffalo Grove for repairs

Lake County has had 15 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and floods.

Around Buffalo Grove

Buffalo Grove and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Riverwoodsmostly inland floodingHigh

Wheelingmostly inland floodingHigh

Buffalo Grovemostly inland floodingModerate

Arlington Heightsmostly inland floodingModerate

Long Grovemostly inland floodingLow

Lincolnshiremostly inland floodingLow

Vernon Hillsmostly inland floodingVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Buffalo Grove covers 6 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Buffalo Grove’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Village of Buffalo Grove. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Buffalo Grove total about $14.9M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.