Climate Risk Summary

Chicago, IL Risk Profile

The primary drivers of climate-related financial risk in Chicago, IL are Inland Flooding, Cold Wave, and Tornado. This area also faces an unusually high intensity for Heat Wave compared to national averages.

City-Wide Aggregation

These scores represent the population-weighted average across all residential blocks in Chicago.

Primary Risks

Inland Flooding

$418,240,979

Expected Annual Loss for Chicago

48.8Score

Very High compared to US average

Chicago
Minimal Estimated LossMax Estimated Loss

Cold Wave

$358,872,927

Expected Annual Loss for Chicago

94.6Score

Very High compared to US average

Chicago
Minimal Estimated LossMax Estimated Loss

Tornado

$165,314,014

Expected Annual Loss for Chicago

80.2Score

Very High compared to US average

Chicago
Minimal Estimated LossMax Estimated Loss

City Boundary

Legend
Very Low
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

Financial Risk Inventory

MAJOR DRIVER
Inland Flooding
$418,240,979
Score: 48.8
MAJOR DRIVER
Cold Wave
$358,872,927
Score: 94.6
MAJOR DRIVER
Tornado
$165,314,014
Score: 80.2
UNUSUALLY HIGH
Heat Wave
$98,489,011
Score: 85.0
Earthquake
$26,744,286
Score: 53.1
Strong Wind
$5,823,014
Score: 35.6
Hail
$4,680,281
Score: 49.4
Winter Weather
$2,159,583
Score: 56.5
Lightning
$1,335,962
Score: 14.5
Ice Storm
$849,184
Score: 18.4
Hurricane
$24,789
Score: 15.7
Wildfire
$9,374
Score: 2.2
Landslide
$108
Score: 8.6
Drought
$114
Score: 0.6

Recommended investments to protect your property value and reduce insurance liability based on your local risk profile.

🏠Low Investment

Cold Wave Mitigation

General property maintenance and insurance review recommended.

Risk Score: 94.6
🌪️High Investment

Tornado Mitigation

Reinforce garage doors and consider a FEMA-approved safe room or storm cellar.

Risk Score: 80.2
☀️Low Investment

Heat Wave Mitigation

Ensure attic insulation is R-49+ and consider a dual-fuel backup generator for AC.

Risk Score: 85.0
🏠Low Investment

Earthquake Mitigation

General property maintenance and insurance review recommended.

Risk Score: 53.1
🏠Low Investment

Winter Weather Mitigation

General property maintenance and insurance review recommended.

Risk Score: 56.5

Sources and Methodology

Spatial Aggregation

Our "Atlas" risk scores are derived using a population-weighted spatial join. Because US Zip Codes and Census Tracts do not share perfectly aligned boundaries, a simple geographic average would be misleading. We utilize US Census Block Group population statistics to identify where residents actually live within a Zip Code. We then intersect these points with FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) hazard data to calculate a weighted exposure score.

Financial Projections (EAL)

Expected Annual Loss (EAL) estimates the average economic impact of natural hazards in dollars per year. This calculation incorporates three components: Exposure (the value of structures and agriculture), Annualized Frequency (historical probability), and Historic Loss Ratio (vulnerability of the area).

Primary Data Sources

  • FEMA National Risk IndexHazard frequency and loss data (v1.20.0)
  • U.S. Census BureauTIGER/Line 2025 Shapefiles & Decennial Population

Nearby Cities

Bedford ParkBerwynBurbankCiceroEvergreen Park

Zip Codes in Chicago

60007600186006860106601316017660601606026060360604606056060660607606086060960610606116061260613606146061560616606176061860619606206062160622606236062460625606266062860629606306063160632606336063460636606376063860639606406064160642606436064460645606466064760649606516065260653606546065560656606576065960660606616070660707607146080460827