Enter any address in Cook County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms dominates the flood character of Cook County, IL. Between 1996 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 206 flood events and 184 flash flood events, resulting in 3 fatalities. For example, torrential rainfall caused widespread flash flooding across the Chicago metro area in August 2025, leading to an estimated $288 million in damages. Another event in July 2025 produced heavy rain and flash flooding across central Cook County.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have filed the most claims (8,258), with an average payout of $9,471 and an average water depth of 3.9 feet. Properties in Zone X also experienced significant claims (2,186), with a higher average payout of $11,529 and an average water depth of 4.6 feet, despite being in a lower-risk zone. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X should pay particular attention to their flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
125 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cook County, Illinois has recorded 393 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 184 flash floods and 206 river or area floods. The county has received 24 federal disaster declarations, 8 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1967–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Floodng | Flood | Jul 13, 2024 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Sep 17, 2023 |
| 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 | Jul 19, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 13, 2008 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 20, 2007 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 31, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 25, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2025 | 200.00M |
| Flood | Jul 24, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2025 | 1.50M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2025 | 3.50M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2025 | 2.50M |
Flood — Jan 31, 2025
Persistent moderate to heavy rain during the morning of the 31st resulted in a few instances of localized flooding, mainly around the interior Chicago metro area. Despite rain reports largely below 1.5, NWS Chicago recorded a 12 frost depth in Romeoville on the morning of the 31st, which made the area more susceptible to flooding.
Flood — Jul 28, 2025
Isolated thunderstorms moved across portions of northeast Illinois during the afternoon of July 28th.
Flood — Jul 25, 2025
Isolated thunderstorms produced funnel clouds across central Illinois during the late morning of July 25th. A narrow line of thunderstorms developed over southeast DuPage and central Cook Counties during the late morning of July 25th and continued into the early afternoon producing torrential rainfall and widespread flash flooding. Scattered thunderstorms moved across portions of northern Ill...
Flash Flood — Jul 25, 2025
Isolated thunderstorms produced funnel clouds across central Illinois during the late morning of July 25th. A narrow line of thunderstorms developed over southeast DuPage and central Cook Counties during the late morning of July 25th and continued into the early afternoon producing torrential rainfall and widespread flash flooding. Scattered thunderstorms moved across portions of northern Ill...
Flood — Jul 24, 2025
Scattered thunderstorms produced significant wind damage across portions of the Chicago Metro area during the afternoon of July 24th.
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 Cook 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 Cook 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.