This Illinois City Just Made the List of Least Safe Places for Natural Disasters

Mother Nature can be unpredictable, but some U.S. cities are clearly on her bad side. One Illinois city just made the list of the least safe places — any guesses which one ticked her off?

Mother Nature is Not a Fan of This Illinois City

👇🏾 Devastation Strikes Belvidere, Illinois: The Story Of The 1967 Tornado👇🏾

If it feels like the weather's been angrier lately, it's because it has. The U.S. saw over two dozen billion-dollar natural disasters last year, and some cities seem to have a permanent target on their backs. A new report from Home Gnome ranked the Safest Cities from Natural Disasters in 2025 — and more importantly, the least safe.

How They Ranked 477 U.S. Cities

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Researchers analyzed 477 of the biggest U.S. cities across five categories using 21 metrics. Think FEMA risk scores, exposure to 18 types of natural hazards (yes, 18), average insurance costs, and the availability of emergency help like fire stations, EMTs, and hospitals.

The Cities That Offended Mother Nature

While some cities are basically wrapped in a warm, FEMA-approved safety blanket (shoutout to places like Syracuse, NY), others apparently did something to deeply offend Mother Nature.

Take paradise, Nevada — if the name sounds ironic, it is. It ranked among the bottom 10 thanks to its high-risk exposure and lack of disaster resources. Or Pembroke Pines, Florida, which basically lives in a hurricane magnet.

And Then... Illinois

The Land of Lincoln is usually a proud, sturdy Midwestern state. But one of our cities is now officially among the 10 least safe from natural disasters in the entire country.

Ready? It's Cicero, Illinois. Yep. Tornado risk, flooding potential, and limited emergency response coverage all helped secure our spot.

Safest Cities from Natural Disasters

1. Lynchburg, VA
2. Roanoke, VA
3. Auburn, AL
4. Alexandria, VA
5. Macon, GA
6. Bloomington, IN
7. Richmond, VA
8. Pittsburgh, PA
9. Rochester, MN
10. Round Rock, TX

Least Safe Cities from Natural Disasters

1. Hemet, CA
2. South Gate, CA
3. Miami Gardens, FL
4. Compton, CA
5. Pharr, TX
6. El Monte, CA
7. Carson, CA
8. Largo, FL
9. Deerfield Beach, FL
10. Cicero, IL

Read the full story here.

Prepare Now, Not Later

Feeling concerned? Here's a great starting point for preparation: Ready.gov.

How Safe Is Your City From Natural Disasters In 2025?

Curious about the safest cities in the U.S. from natural disasters? Discover which areas are at the highest risk for 2025 and how they’re ranked.

Natural disasters are on the rise. Discover which U.S. cities are the most vulnerable in 2025 according to a recent Home Gnome report.

KEEP READING: The 1967 Belvidere Tornado That Shook Northern Illinois