Natural hazards · Evanston

Evanston, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Evanston comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 1978. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Evanston?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Evanston to be higher than in 29% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding37%Cold waves34%Tornadoes16%Heat waves9%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Evanston faces

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

Inland flooding

37% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 51% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Cold waves

34% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 22% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

16% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 75% of U.S. places

Heat waves

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 77% 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 Evanston flood?

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

13paid claims since 1978

$27Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Mid-spring storms: 1 claim, $5K

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

No community discount. Evanston 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 Evanston

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into EvanstonDeclared for Cook County only

2024

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

48 households applied for aid $194K aid approved

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

138 households applied for aid $232K aid approved

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

317 households applied for aid $398K aid approved

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$164K to the City of Evanston for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

93 households applied for aid $145K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

140 households applied for aid $134K aid approved $25K to the City of Evanston for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$210K to the City of Evanston for repairs

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$92K to the City of Evanston for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$114K to the City of Evanston for repairs

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

Around Evanston

Evanston and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Wilmettemostly inland floodingModerate

New Triermostly inland floodingModerate

Nilesmostly inland floodingModerate

Chicagomostly inland floodingModerate

Skokiemostly inland floodingModerate

Evanstonmostly inland floodingLow

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. Evanston covers 19 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Evanston’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Evanston. 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 Evanston total about $31.1M 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.