Natural hazards · Summit

Summit, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Summit comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1980. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Summit?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Summit to be higher than in 62% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding44%Cold waves30%Tornadoes14%Heat waves8%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Summit faces

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

Inland flooding

44% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Cold waves

30% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

14% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 76% of U.S. places

Heat waves

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Summit flood?

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

3paid claims since 1980

$19Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19802026

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. Summit 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 Summit

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SummitDeclared for Cook County only

2024

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

7 households applied for aid $49K aid approved

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

17 households applied for aid $22K aid approved

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

28 households applied for aid $47K aid approved

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$25K to the Village of Summit for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

181 households applied for aid $545K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $6K aid approved

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$6K to the Village of Summit for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$12K to the Village of Summit for repairs

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

Around Summit

Summit and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Lyonsmostly inland floodingVery high

Forest Viewmostly inland floodingHigh

Stickneymostly inland floodingHigh

Lyonsmostly inland floodingHigh

Summitmostly inland floodingHigh

Chicagomostly inland floodingModerate

Bedford Parkmostly inland floodingLow

McCookmostly 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. Summit covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Summit’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Village of Summit. 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 Summit total about $5.0M 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.