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DuPage County, Illinois

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively High overall risk
2nd of 102highest risk in Illinois
$366Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0

DuPage County, Illinois has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 98% of US counties. It ranks 2nd of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $366 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $393 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2013 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,772 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $55 million on 3,607 claims here, including $20 million for floods in 2013.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in DuPage County

$195 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Cold wave

Very High
$72.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Tornado

Very High
$67 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh98.0
$195M
Cold waveVery High99.7
$72M
TornadoVery High99.3
$67M
EarthquakeModerate93.2
$11M
Strong windVery High99.2
$11M
Heat waveModerate93.3
$6M
LightningHigh96.1
$3M
Winter weatherHigh88.4
$452K
HailLow53.8
$382K
Ice stormModerate74.0
$339K
WildfireVery Low33.7
$22K
HurricaneVery Low25.1
$12K
DroughtVery Low23.2
$11K
LandslideVery Low33.0
$479

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included DuPage County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm4
Snowstorm4
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 10, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Aug 19, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 3, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 17, 2001Illinois Winter Snow StormsEmergency
Jan 8, 1999Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99Emergency
Jul 25, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 21, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1979Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Show all 14
Jun 18, 1976Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 4, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 25, 1967TornadoesMajor disaster

Illinois also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,084 storm reports in DuPage County since 1955, with 9 deaths and 148 injuries and about $48.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 13, 1976.

51tornadoes
280hail reports, largest 4.8 inches
556damaging thunderstorm winds
167floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 13, 1976F4–0 / 0
Mar 12, 1976F3–3 / 0
Jun 20, 2021EF3Naperville11 / 0
Jul 17, 1972F2–0 / 0
Mar 12, 1976F2–25 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 14, 2008Flash FloodWoodridge$8M
Apr 18, 2013Flash FloodMunger$7M
Jul 24, 2010Flash FloodMunger$6M
Jul 17, 1996Flash FloodSouth and Central$4M
Apr 28, 1955Tornado–$3M
Jul 17, 1972Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in DuPage County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,772 policies)
40.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$55.5 millionpaid on 3,607 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $19.7 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in DuPage County

$391,400median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.3%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 367,152 housing units.

Compare in Illinois

All 102 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Cook CountyVery HighInland flooding
DuPage CountyHighInland flooding
Lake CountyHighInland flooding
Will CountyHighInland flooding
Kane CountyHighInland flooding
McHenry CountyModerateInland flooding
Winnebago CountyModerateInland flooding
Madison CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Cook CountyVery High22
Will CountyHigh17
Kane CountyHigh14
Kendall CountyLow11

Common questions about DuPage County

What is the biggest natural hazard in DuPage County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in DuPage County, about $195 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $72.3 million.

How many federal disasters has DuPage County had?

DuPage County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in May 2013.

Is DuPage County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively High, 2nd highest of 102 in Illinois. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in DuPage County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in DuPage County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has DuPage County had?

NOAA records list 51 tornadoes in DuPage County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 13, 1976. The weather service has also logged 280 hail reports and 167 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.