14 flood insurance claims·$197,744 paid
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 Christian 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 dominates the flood risk profile in Christian County, Illinois. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 46 flash flood events compared to 7 general flood events, which resulted in 4 deaths.
Severe storms driven by stationary fronts, low pressure systems, and moist airmasses frequently produce heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding across the region. For example, a stationary frontal boundary produced heavy rainfall of 2 to 3 inches and localized flash flooding on May 14, 2023. An outflow boundary interacting with a moist airmass triggered scattered flash flooding during storms on July 20, 2025.
National Flood Insurance Program claims data indicates that property owners in both designated flood hazard areas and outside them have experienced flood losses. Zone A properties recorded 5 claims with an average payout of $8,729 and an average water depth of 13 inches. Zone X properties recorded 4 claims with an average payout of $37,420 and an average water depth of 1 inch. Zone UNKNOWN recorded 3 claims with an average payout of $2,752 and an average water depth of 2 inches. Zone X_UNSHADED recorded 2 claims with an average payout of $2,447 and an average water depth of 1 inch. Homeowners, real estate agents, and journalists should pay the closest attention to properties situated in high-risk Zone A, as well as moderate-to-low risk Zone X areas where heavy localized rainfall can still produce costly damage.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 4 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 2002, with 4 claims and $6,223 paid.
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.
20 NOAA storm reports from Christian County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Illinois flood stories →
8 federal disaster declarations since 1999.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Jun 29, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Nov 30, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Apr 21, 2002 |
| Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Jan 1, 1999 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
53 since 1996: 46 flash floods and 7 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2023 | $3,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 6, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 25, 2022 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2022 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2020 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2019 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2018 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jul 20, 2025. An outflow boundary interacting with a very moist airmass characterized by surface dewpoints in the middle to upper 70s triggered clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms across south-central Illinois during the afternoon and evening of July 20th. Scattered wind damage and flash flooding occurred...mainly south of a Shelbyville to Marshall line.
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 addition, heavy rainf…
Flash Flood · Aug 6, 2023. A vigorous short-wave trough interacted with an approaching low pressure system and associated warm frontal boundary to trigger clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms across west-central Illinois during the late afternoon of August 6th. Due to enhanced low-level wind shear along and north of the warm front, many of the cells began rotating and spinning up occasional funnel clouds. One of the cells intensifie…
Flash Flood · Jun 25, 2022. A cold front triggered bands of strong to severe thunderstorms across west-central Illinois during the evening of June 25th. Some of the cells produced wind gusts up to 60mph, resulting in scattered wind damage. In addition, excessive rainfall rates led to localized flash flooding with some of the stronger storms.
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 Christian 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.