Natural hazards · Markham

Markham, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Markham comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 196 claims here since 1979. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Markham?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Markham to be higher than in 73% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding56%Cold waves22%Tornadoes13%Heat waves7%Everything else3%

By hazard

What Markham 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 89% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Cold waves

22% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 82% 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 Markham flood?

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

196paid claims since 1979

$830Kpaid to owners

19homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Ike: 7 claims, $34K
Mid-spring storms: 2 claims, $21K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Markham 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 Markham

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MarkhamDeclared for Cook County only

2024

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

605 households applied for aid $1.7M aid approved

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

1,107 households applied for aid $2.5M aid approved

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

645 households applied for aid $1.2M aid approved

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$18K to the City of Markham for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

695 households applied for aid $1.8M aid approved

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

733 households applied for aid $766K aid approved

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$8K to the City of Markham for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$10K to the City of Markham for repairs

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

Around Markham

Markham and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Posenmostly inland floodingVery high

Harveymostly inland floodingVery high

Hazel Crestmostly inland floodingHigh

Markhammostly inland floodingHigh

Midlothianmostly inland floodingHigh

Country Club Hillsmostly inland floodingHigh

Oak Forestmostly 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. Markham covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Markham’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Markham. 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 Markham total about $7.0M 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.