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Cook County, IL

FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data

Population: 5,272,775 · Cities: Chicago , Cicero , Schaumburg , Evanston , Arlington Heights , Palatine , Skokie , Des Plaines , Orland Park , Oak Lawn , Mount Prospect , Berwyn , Tinley Park , Oak Park , Hoffman Estates , Glenview , Park Ridge , Streamwood , Wheeling , Hanover Park , Calumet City , Northbrook , Elk Grove Village , Niles , Burbank , Lansing , Wilmette , Oak Forest , Chicago Heights , Morton Grove , Melrose Park , Rolling Meadows , Elmwood Park , Maywood , Blue Island , Park Forest , South Holland , Dolton , Harvey , Evergreen Park , Brookfield , Homewood , Matteson , Alsip , Lemont , Bellwood , Franklin Park , Palos Hills , Bridgeview , Westchester , Country Club Hills , La Grange , Prospect Heights , Norridge , Hickory Hills , Chicago Ridge , Midlothian , Forest Park , Western Springs , La Grange Park , Lincolnwood , Hazel Crest , Richton Park , Winnetka , Northlake , Justice , Palos Heights , River Forest , Schiller Park , Markham

Cook County has experienced 24 federally declared disasters since 1967, most recently Severe Storms And Flooding in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very High — among the most at-risk counties in the country.

Cook County's highest-rated hazards are tornado, cold wave, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 36% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (80th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.

Past disasters & FEMA designations

A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Cook County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1967, covering 6 disaster types including flood (8), severe storm (8), snowstorm (4).

Showing the 10 most recent of 24 total declarations since 1967.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.

Risk by hazard type

Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.

Community vulnerability

Cook County ranks in the 80th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.

Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.

Future risk outlook

NOAA tracked 427 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 181 in 2016–20 vs 246 in 2021–25 (+36% — frequency increasing).

Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.