Enter any address in Cass County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Cass County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 25 flash flood events and 11 flood events. For example, localized flash flooding occurred in May 2023 due to 2 to 3 inches of rainfall, and in July 2022, 2 to 4 inches of rain resulted in flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest average water depths and payouts. Claims in Zone UNKNOWN and Zone X also show significant payouts, with average water depths varying. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in areas with unknown flood zone designations or general Zone X, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cass County, Illinois has recorded 36 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 25 flash floods and 11 river or area floods. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2021)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Tornado | Dec 10, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Feb 24, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 13, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Tornado | Apr 21, 2002 |
| Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Snowstorm | Jan 1, 1999 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2023 | 4.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2023 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 24, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 27, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 18, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2013 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 14, 2023
A stationary frontal boundary extending from northern Missouri to western Kentucky triggered clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms across parts of central Illinois during the late afternoon and evening of May 14th. Most of the storms were concentrated along a Rushville...to Springfield...to Salem line. Scattered wind damage and hail as large as golf balls occurred across this area. In a...
Flash Flood — Jul 8, 2022
A weak low pressure system was located in central Missouri, with a slow moving warm front draped across southern Illinois. Widespread thunderstorms developed along the warm front during the pre-dawn hours, with the complex tracking southeast during the morning. The heaviest rains occurred near and south of I-72, where 2 to 4 inches of rain fell, resulting in a few instances of flash flooding.
Flood — Oct 24, 2021
Low pressure tracking from near Kansas City around midday on October 24th into central Illinois during the evening of the 24th triggered two distinct bands of pre-frontal convection. Some of the storms produced damaging wind gusts of 60 to 70mph and hail as large as golf balls. In addition, heavy rainfall of 2 to 4 inches occurred...which led to localized flash flooding.
Flood — Apr 29, 2017
Heavy rainfall impacted central and southeast Illinois from April 29th into April 30th...creating flash flooding, which led to widespread areal flooding. Periods of thunderstorms with very high rainfall rates dropped 2.00 to 6.50 inches of rain across much of central and southeast Illinois from April 29th into early on May 1st. This rainfall, occurring on top of already saturated soils, created...
Flash Flood — Apr 29, 2017
Low pressure tracking along a stationary frontal boundary near the I-70 corridor brought widespread strong to severe thunderstorms to much of central and southeast Illinois during the late afternoon and evening of April 29th. A tornado briefly touched down in an open field northeast of Alexander in Morgan County. Elsewhere, thunderstorms packed winds of 60-70mph and caused significant wind da...
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 Cass 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 Cass 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.