Natural hazards · McHenry

McHenry, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in McHenry comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 47 claims here since 1978. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is McHenry?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in McHenry to be higher than in 72% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding68%Cold waves14%Tornadoes13%Everything else5%

By hazard

What McHenry faces

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

Inland flooding

68% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

14% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 31% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

13% of expected damage

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

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 McHenry flood?

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

47paid claims since 1978

$319Kpaid to owners

5homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Mid-spring storms: 1 claim, $82K
Midwest Flooding: 1 claim, $3K

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. McHenry isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: McHenry County.

Disasters that hit McHenry

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into McHenryDeclared for McHenry County only

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

87 households applied for aid $126K aid approved $16K to the City of McHenry for repairs

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$76K to the City of McHenry for repairs

2008

Record Snow and Near Record Snow

$51K to the City of McHenry for repairs

2006

Snow

$28K to the City of McHenry for repairs

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$21K to the City of McHenry for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$27K to the City of McHenry for repairs

McHenry County has had 14 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and floods.

Around McHenry

McHenry and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

McHenrymostly inland floodingHigh

Prairie Grovemostly inland floodingHigh

Johnsburgmostly inland floodingModerate

McCullom Lakemostly inland floodingModerate

Bull Valleymostly inland floodingLow

Wonder Lakemostly 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. McHenry covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to McHenry’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of McHenry. 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 McHenry total about $8.8M 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.