Natural hazards · West Chicago

West Chicago, IL natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in West Chicago comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 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 West Chicago?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in West Chicago to be higher than in 15% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding43%Cold waves23%Tornadoes22%Earthquakes6%Everything else7%

By hazard

What West Chicago faces

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

Inland flooding

43% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 28% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Cold waves

23% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 21% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

22% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 75% of U.S. places

Earthquakes

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 59% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong 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 West Chicago flood?

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

8paid claims since 1978

$43Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19782026

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

Insurance rates: DuPage County.

Disasters that hit West Chicago

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into West ChicagoDeclared for DuPage County only

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

49 households applied for aid $99K aid approved $20K to the City of West Chicago for repairs

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$52K to the City of West Chicago for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

48 households applied for aid $149K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

31 households applied for aid $46K aid approved $23K to the City of West Chicago for repairs

2000

Illinois Winter Snow Storms

$21K to the City of West Chicago for repairs

1999

Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99

$21K to the City of West Chicago for repairs

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

Around West Chicago

West Chicago and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

St. Charlesmostly inland floodingModerate

St. Charlesmostly inland floodingLow

Waynemostly inland floodingLow

Genevamostly inland floodingLow

Bataviamostly inland floodingVery low

Waynemostly inland floodingVery low

West Chicagomostly inland floodingVery 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. West Chicago covers 4 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to West Chicago’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of West Chicago. 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 West Chicago total about $5.4M 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.