Natural hazards · River Forest

River Forest, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in River Forest comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 2008. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is River Forest?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in River Forest to be higher than in 69% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding64%Cold waves17%Tornadoes10%Everything else9%

By hazard

What River Forest faces

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

Inland flooding

64% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Cold waves

17% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 76% 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 River Forest flood?

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

12paid claims since 2008

$375Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20082026

Biggest named events

Mid-spring storms: 3 claims, $11K
Hurricane Ike: 2 claims, $240K
Early winter storms: 1 claim, $352

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. River Forest 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.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

5flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit River Forest

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into River ForestDeclared for Cook County only

2024

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

10 households applied for aid $23K aid approved

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

28 households applied for aid $45K aid approved

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

57 households applied for aid $73K aid approved

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

132 households applied for aid $213K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

53 households applied for aid $234K aid approved

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

Around River Forest

River Forest and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Provisomostly inland floodingHigh

Maywoodmostly inland floodingHigh

River Forestmostly inland floodingHigh

Forest Parkmostly inland floodingHigh

Melrose Parkmostly inland floodingHigh

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. River Forest covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to River Forest’s own flood-insurance community (here, the census tracts inside it); household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of River 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 River Forest total about $9.3M 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.