Oak Lawn, IL
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Oak Lawn is rated Very High for overall natural hazard risk — among the most at-risk counties in the country — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Cook County, IL. The county's highest-rated hazards are tornado, cold wave, and winter weather.
Storm events near Oak Lawn
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Oak Lawn's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Oak Lawn itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Cook County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Oak Lawn along with the rest of the county, not a Oak Lawn-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 55.8 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 99.9 | Very High |
| Coastal Flooding | 44 | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | 98.4 | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | 99.8 | Very High |
| Tornado | 100 | Very High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 100 | Very High |
| Drought | 25.7 | Very Low |
| Hail | 99.1 | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | 48.9 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 97.2 | Very High |
| Landslide | 56.4 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 98.2 | Very High |
| Strong Wind | 99.6 | Very High |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 100 | Very High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Cook County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Cook County:
More on Cook County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Oak Lawn, IL at risk of?
Oak Lawn is rated Very High for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — among the most at-risk counties in the country. The highest-rated hazards for Cook County, where Oak Lawn is located, are tornado, cold wave, and winter weather.
What is Oak Lawn's biggest natural hazard risk?
Tornado is the highest-rated hazard for Cook County, where Oak Lawn is located, scoring 100 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Oak Lawn a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Yes — Oak Lawn carries among the most at-risk counties in the country for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Very High" for Cook County.
Has Oak Lawn had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 67 tornado, 269 hail, 331 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Oak Lawn since 2016.