Enter any address in Clark County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall is the most frequent type of flood event in Clark County, IL, with 31 occurrences in the last 30 years, compared to 10 instances of general flooding. For example, heavy rainfall in January 2020 led to widespread flooding across central Illinois, with Clark County receiving 3 to 6 inches of rain. More recently, localized flash flooding occurred in June 2018 due to excessive rainfall rates on saturated soils.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced deeper water on average (10.3 ft) compared to Zone X (6.6 ft), though Zone X has had more claims. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those in Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Clark County, Illinois has recorded 41 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 31 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 10 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1974–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| 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 | Jun 1, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Tornado | Apr 21, 2002 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Feb 23, 1985 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Jun 10, 1974 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 11, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 4, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 19, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jan 11, 2020
Several waves of low pressure tracking along a nearly stationary frontal boundary brought periods of locally heavy rainfall to central Illinois on January 10th and 11th. The front gradually shifted eastward into the Ohio River Valley and brought an end to the rain by the evening of January 11th. Storm total rainfall was heaviest in a corridor including Shelby, Moultrie, Douglas, Coles, Cumber...
Flash Flood — May 29, 2019
Several clusters of thunderstorms developed along a nearly stationary frontal boundary draped across central Illinois during the late afternoon and evening of May 29th. Four landspout type tornadoes touched down beneath developing cells across portions of Christian and Macon counties. Other storms produced isolated wind damage and hail as large as quarters. In addition, numerous cells traini...
Flash Flood — Jun 11, 2018
A series of weak impulses interacted with a stationary frontal boundary extending from northeast Missouri to southwest Indiana to produce several rounds of thunderstorms across south-central Illinois from the evening of June 11th into the morning of June 12th. The strongest cells produced damaging wind gusts of around 60mph and hail as large as golf balls during the evening of June 11th. In a...
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 Clark 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 Clark 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.