My wife and I are buying a house in Chicago in a few months. Is there anything we should be doing now to prepare for this impending "storm"?
People put a lot of value in walkability and nearby amenities.
As far as large American cities go, Chicago is extremely child friendly and child-focused. The attendance area for the neighborhood schools are small. Chicago Public Schools has an excellent mapping tool - don't trust the real estate listings. They lie.
City employees in Chicago are required to live inside the city. The northwest side has a heavy concentration. On one block every third house will be a policeman or fireman. On another block it will be streets and san workers. Then teachers. Etc. It does affect the character of the block :)
Do NOT stretch yourself financially.
Avoid any financing with a rate which can adjust upward.
Assume that a financial storm will be Bad News for the neighborhoods and the City - so be careful about both the area around your new house, and any maintenance-requiring infrastructure that that area is dependent upon. (Especially when "yet another storm with once-in-500-year rainfall" hits.)