Oak Lawn, IL (ZIP 60453) sits in one of the more disaster-active areas in the region, with 250 natural disaster events on record. These include 100 extreme cold events, 69 hailstorms, and 53 extreme heat events. Total documented property damage amounts to $161M. These events have resulted in 538 recorded deaths and 520 injuries.
The dominant hazard type for Oak Lawn is extreme cold events, with 100 recorded events making up 40% of the area's disaster history. Of these, 20 (20%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for cold-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). 149 fatalities have been attributed to extreme cold events in this area. The most recent recorded extreme cold event occurred on Jan 18, 2016.
Hailstorms account for 28% of the disaster record here, with 69 events documented. Hail-related events have caused a combined $1K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on Mar 19, 2025.
Extreme heat events account for 21% of the disaster record here, with 53 events documented. Of these, 32 (60%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for heat-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Heat-related events have caused a combined $775K in documented property damage. 341 fatalities have been attributed to extreme heat events in this area. The most recent recorded extreme heat event occurred on Sep 11, 2013.
Oak Lawn has experienced 7 floods on record. Of these, 6 (86%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Flood-related events have caused a combined $132.8M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Aug 18, 2025.
Oak Lawn has experienced 7 tornadoes on record. One event reached severity level 4 or 5 on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for tornado-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Tornado-related events have caused a combined $25.5M in documented property damage. 33 fatalities have been attributed to tornadoes in this area. The most recent recorded tornado occurred on Jul 15, 2024.
Oak Lawn has experienced 7 severe wind events on record. Wind-related events have caused a combined $1.2M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded severe wind event occurred on May 2, 2018.
The most significant disaster event on record for Oak Lawn was Flash Flood on Aug 17, 2025, which caused $55M in property damage. Another major event was Flash Flood (Aug 22, 2014), causing $50M in damages. EF4 Tornado on Apr 21, 1967 also caused significant damage ($25M).
Explore disaster history for adjacent areas
Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 60453 has experienced 250 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include extreme cold events (100 events), hailstorms (69 events), extreme heat events (53 events), floods (7 events), tornadoes (7 events), severe wind events (7 events), blizzards (6 events), and earthquake (1 event). The primary hazard is extreme cold events, which account for 40% of all recorded events.
Extreme cold events are the most frequently recorded hazard in Oak Lawn, IL, with 100 events documented.
Yes, Oak Lawn (ZIP 60453) has 7 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $132.8M in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Aug 18, 2025.
Oak Lawn has 7 recorded tornado events in the historical record. The strongest tornado recorded reached severity level 5/5 on the normalized scale. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $25.5M. The most recent tornado was recorded on Jul 15, 2024.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 60453 was Flash Flood, which occurred on Aug 17, 2025. This event caused $55M in documented property damage. It was rated at severity level 5/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $161M in property damage in the Oak Lawn, IL area (ZIP 60453). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →