Natural Disaster Risk in Highwood

Natural Hazard Profile: Highwood, Illinois

Highwood is a town of roughly 5,301 residents in Lake County, in the Great Lakes region. The area experiences bitterly cold winters and hot, humid summers, with a severe thunderstorm and tornado season each spring shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Highwood.

FEMA rates Highwood's composite natural disaster risk at 7.3 out of 10 — high risk. Cold wave events are the primary hazard risk, driven by periodic invasions of Arctic air that drive wind chills to life-threatening levels and stress heating systems. Residents should also account for wind and tornado risk in their preparedness planning.

Highwood's risk score, slightly above the 5.8/10 state average and well above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Lake County, the highest-scoring are cold wave, wind, and tornado. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Highwood's high risk designation reflects meaningful exposure to natural hazards. Residents should verify that their insurance covers the area's primary risks, prepare a family emergency plan, and stay informed about seasonal hazard peaks through local weather and emergency management services.