Natural hazards · Waukegan

Waukegan, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Waukegan comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 26 claims here since 1993. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Waukegan?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Waukegan to be higher than in 11% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding37%Cold waves27%Tornadoes25%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Waukegan faces

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

Inland flooding

37% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 25% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

27% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

25% of expected damage

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

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 Waukegan flood?

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

26paid claims since 1993

$1.3Mpaid to owners

4homes flooded more than once

19932026

Biggest named events

Midwest Flooding: 1 claim, $224K

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

Insurance rates: Lake County.

Disasters that hit Waukegan

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WaukeganDeclared for Lake County only

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

479 households applied for aid $456K aid approved

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$146K to the City of Waukegan for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

8 households applied for aid $10K aid approved

2008

Record Snow and Near Record Snow

$129K to the City of Waukegan for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

5 households applied for aid

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$106K to the City of Waukegan for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$130K to the City of Waukegan for repairs

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

Around Waukegan

Waukegan and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Libertyvillemostly inland floodingLow

Gurneemostly inland floodingLow

Warrenmostly inland floodingVery low

Waukeganmostly inland floodingVery low

Wadsworthmostly inland floodingVery low

Green Oaksmostly inland floodingVery low

Newportmostly inland floodingVery low

Waukeganmostly inland floodingVery low

Beach Parkmostly inland floodingVery low

Park Citymostly inland floodingVery low

North Chicagomostly cold wavesVery 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. Waukegan covers 21 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Waukegan’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Waukegan. 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 Waukegan total about $22.1M 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.