32 flood insurance claims·$378,494 paid·5 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Brown County, Illinois. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms and river flooding from heavy spring rains dominate the flood history of Brown County. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 11 flash flood events and 7 general flood events. Notable occurrences include scattered showers and storms in July 2020 that caused isolated flash flooding, as well as heavy rain from July 11–12, 2015, that resulted in numerous flash flood reports and one flash flood death. Additionally, heavy spring rain in April 2013 caused major river flooding, with the Illinois River at La Grange reaching a record 34.50 feet on April 27 and remaining above flood stage into May.
According to FEMA National Flood Insurance Program records, properties in designated high-risk zones experience the most frequent claims. Zone A accounts for 20 claims with an average payout of $9,835 and an average recorded water depth of 58 inches. Zone UNKNOWN recorded 8 claims averaging $5,711 with an average water depth of 3 inches. Zone X recorded 2 claims averaging $48,613 with an average water depth of 13 inches, while Zone X_UNSHADED recorded 2 claims averaging $19,440 with an average water depth of 4 inches. Homeowners and real estate agents with properties in Zone A and near major rivers or low-lying areas should pay the closest attention to these flood risks.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
9% of Brown County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
22 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 27 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 1982, with 7 claims and $35,940 paid, the year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
2 NOAA storm reports from Brown County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Illinois flood stories →
16 federal disaster declarations since 1973, 5 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Snow | Nov 30, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | May 6, 2003 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Apr 21, 2002 |
| Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Jan 1, 1999 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Apr 28, 1996 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
18 since 1996: 11 flash floods and 7 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2020 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2015 | — |
| Flood | Apr 19, 2013 | $5,000 |
| Flood | Apr 18, 2013 | $1,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2013 | — · 1 killed |
| Flood | May 1, 2013 | $2,000 |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2013 | $1,000 |
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2011 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jul 1, 2020. Scattered showers and storms developed over portions of west central Illinois. Very heavy rainfall fell which caused isolated flash flooding.
Flash Flood · Jul 11, 2015. Several rounds of heavy rain fell over northeast Missouri and west central Illinois from the afternoon hours of July 11th through the early morning hours of July 12th. There were numerous reports of flash flooding as well as two deaths, one from flash flooding and one from a fallen tree.
Flood · Apr 19, 2013. Heavy spring rain caused several rivers in Illinois to hit major flood levels. The Illinois River, Kaskaskia River, La Moine River, and the Mississippi all hit major flood levels at various locations. The Mississippi River and the Illinois River all remained above flood stage into May. The Illinois River at La Grange set a new record reaching 34.50 feet on April 27th.
Flood · Apr 18, 2013. Heavy spring rain caused several rivers in Illinois to hit major flood levels. The Illinois River, Kaskaskia River, La Moine River, and the Mississippi all hit major flood levels at various locations. The Mississippi River and the Illinois River all remained above flood stage into May. The Illinois River at La Grange set a new record reaching 34.50 feet on April 27th.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Brown County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.