Natural hazards · Lake Forest

Lake Forest, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Lake Forest comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 23 claims here since 1979. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Lake Forest?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Lake Forest to be higher than in 26% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding65%Tornadoes16%Cold waves11%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Lake Forest 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

Below average · higher than 49% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

16% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Cold waves

11% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Lake Forest flood?

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

23paid claims since 1979

$207Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19792026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Lake County.

Disasters that hit Lake Forest

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Lake ForestDeclared for Lake County only

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

4 households applied for aid $4K aid approved

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$77K to the City of Lake Forest for repairs

2008

Record Snow and Near Record Snow

$48K to the City of Lake Forest for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $3K aid approved

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$35K to the City of Lake Forest for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$74K to the City of Lake Forest for repairs

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

Around Lake Forest

Lake Forest and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Bannockburnmostly inland floodingHigh

Mettawamostly inland floodingModerate

Highland Parkmostly inland floodingLow

Lake Forestmostly inland floodingLow

Lincolnshiremostly inland floodingLow

Morainemostly inland floodingLow

Highwoodmostly inland floodingVery low

Lake Bluffmostly inland floodingVery low

Shieldsmostly 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. Lake Forest covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Lake Forest’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Lake Forest. 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 Lake Forest total about $9.2M 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.