Cook County
Illinois — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 100th
Cook County faces very high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 100.0, 100th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $2.42B.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Very High | 4.25 / yr | $700M |
| Tornado | Very High | 1.04 / yr | $345M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 14.60 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Very High | 5.89 / yr | $1.10B |
| Heat Wave | Very High | 2.90 / yr | $193M |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 5.70 / yr | $12M |
| Hail | High | 3.95 / yr | $11M |
| Earthquake | High | 0.00 / yr | $57M |
| Lightning | Very High | 41.54 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 0.58 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $2K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $56K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $57K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 0.01 / yr | $37K |
| Drought | Very Low | 3.86 / yr | $12K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cook County?
Cook County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 100.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very High category and the 100th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cook County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Very High, $700M EAL), Tornado (Very High, $345M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $4M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cook County compare to other Illinois counties?
Cook County ranks #1 of 102 Illinois counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very high rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Cook County's $2.42B EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.