Natural hazards · Hazel Crest

Hazel Crest, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Hazel Crest comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 29 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 Hazel Crest?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Hazel Crest to be higher than in 79% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding56%Cold waves23%Tornadoes12%Heat waves7%Everything else2%

By hazard

What Hazel Crest faces

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

Inland flooding

56% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Cold waves

23% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

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

Heat waves

7% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Hazel Crest flood?

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

29paid claims since 1978

$81Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Ike: 3 claims, $23K
Mid-spring storms: 1 claim, $7K

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. Hazel Crest 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 Hazel Crest

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Hazel CrestDeclared for Cook County only

2024

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

819 households applied for aid $2.8M aid approved

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

1,408 households applied for aid $4.3M aid approved

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

783 households applied for aid $1.5M aid approved

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$26K to the Village of Hazel Crest for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

808 households applied for aid $1.8M aid approved

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

736 households applied for aid $601K aid approved $28K to the Village of Hazel Crest for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$32K to the Village of Hazel Crest for repairs

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$13K to the Village of Hazel Crest for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$23K to the Village of Hazel Crest for repairs

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

Around Hazel Crest

Hazel Crest and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Harveymostly inland floodingVery high

Hazel Crestmostly inland floodingHigh

Markhammostly inland floodingHigh

Homewoodmostly inland floodingHigh

Country Club Hillsmostly inland floodingHigh

Flossmoormostly inland floodingModerate

East Hazel Crestmostly 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. Hazel Crest covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Hazel Crest’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Village of Hazel Crest. 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 Hazel Crest total about $7.6M 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.