Natural hazards · Dolton

Dolton, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Dolton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 294 claims here since 1981. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Dolton?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Dolton to be higher than in 92% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding65%Cold waves18%Tornadoes10%Heat waves5%Everything else3%

By hazard

What Dolton faces

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

Inland flooding

65% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Cold waves

18% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 23% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. places

Heat waves

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Dolton flood?

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

294paid claims since 1981

$1.4Mpaid to owners

36homes flooded more than once

19812026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Ike: 105 claims, $650K
Mid-spring storms: 11 claims, $77K

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. Dolton 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.

Disasters that hit Dolton

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into DoltonDeclared for Cook County only

2024

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng

1,700 households applied for aid $6.2M aid approved

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

4,903 households applied for aid $15.1M aid approved

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

2,005 households applied for aid $3.1M aid approved

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$23K to the Village of Dolton for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

1,988 households applied for aid $5.2M aid approved

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

1,917 households applied for aid $1.8M aid approved

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$34K to the Village of Dolton for repairs

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$22K to the Village of Dolton for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$28K to the Village of Dolton for repairs

Cook County has had 21 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Dolton

Dolton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Doltonmostly inland floodingVery high

South Hollandmostly inland floodingVery high

Harveymostly inland floodingVery high

Riverdalemostly inland floodingVery high

Calumet Citymostly inland floodingHigh

Chicagomostly inland floodingModerate

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. Dolton covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Dolton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Village of Dolton. 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 Dolton total about $16.0M 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.