Enter any address in Boone County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Boone County. Between 2000 and 2020, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 20 flood events and 14 flash flood events. Recent events include localized flash flooding in the Rockford area on July 14th and 15th, 2024, following scattered thunderstorms. Earlier, on July 23rd, 2024, thunderstorms also produced isolated flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $6,264 and an average water depth of 3.5 feet. Properties in Zone X also saw significant payouts, averaging $6,374, though with a lower average water depth of 0.6 feet. Residents in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in areas with unknown flood risk, should pay close attention to flood warnings and consider flood insurance.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Boone County, Illinois has recorded 34 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 20 river or area floods. The county has received 11 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1967–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Record Snow And Near Record Snow | Snowstorm | Feb 5, 2008 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Nov 30, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Illinois Winter Snow Storms | Snowstorm | Dec 11, 2000 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Apr 13, 1993 |
| Blizzards & Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Jan 16, 1979 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Apr 26, 1973 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 14, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 30, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 6, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 9, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 26, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 26, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 23, 2024
Scattered thunderstorms moved across northern Illinois during the afternoon and early evening of July 23rd producing isolated wind damage and isolated flooding.
Flood — Jul 14, 2024
Thunderstorms developed during the evening of July 14th and continued into the early morning of July 15th, as they moved across all of northern and central Illinois. Nine tornadoes occurred, along with widespread wind damage. In the City of Chicago, there were 2,810 tree emergency calls and 1,430 calls for tree debris. Localized flash flooding also occurred, for a second night in a row in th...
Flood — Jul 13, 2024
Scattered thunderstorms moved across parts of northern Illinois during the afternoon of July 13th producing isolated wind damage.||Scattered thunderstorms developed during the evening of July 13th and continued into the early morning of July 14th producing significant flash flooding in Rockford as well as isolated wind damage.
Flood — Apr 30, 2022
Scattered severe thunderstorms moved across northern Illinois on April 30th producing three tornadoes, large hail, localized wind damage and minor flooding.
Flood — Jul 6, 2022
Scattered thunderstorms moved across parts of northern Illinois during the evening of July 5th into the early morning of July 6th producing scattered wind damage and flooding.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Boone County, Illinois:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Boone County, Illinois that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.