Enter any address in Douglas County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Douglas County. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 26 flash flood events and 9 general flood events. For example, in August 2021, storms dropped 3 to 4 inches of rain, causing flash flooding in Atwood. More recently, in May 2024, isolated flash flooding occurred in rural areas of the county due to thunderstorms.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows a significant number of claims in Zone A, with an average payout of $5,061 and an average water depth of 3.8 feet. Interestingly, Zone X, typically considered moderate to low risk, has a higher average payout of $14,088, with an average water depth of 12.0 feet, suggesting that properties in this zone have experienced substantial flood damage. Homeowners in 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.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Douglas County, Illinois has recorded 35 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 26 flash floods and 9 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1990–2023)
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 Tornadoes | Tornado | Nov 17, 2013 |
| 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 |
| 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 19, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 26, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 11, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 3, 2020 | 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 | Dec 27, 2015 | 2.20M |
Flash Flood — May 19, 2024
An upper-level disturbance interacting with a stationary frontal boundary draped across central Illinois triggered clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of May 19th. Some of the cells produced flash flooding and hail as large as ping pong balls near Long Creek in Macon County, while others caused isolated flash flooding in parts of rural Douglas County.
Flash Flood — Aug 26, 2021
Numerous clusters of thunderstorms developed along previous outflow boundaries across central Illinois during the afternoon and evening of August 26th. One of the cells produced wind gusts in excess of 60 mph, which downed several large trees in Pana in Christian County. Other storms dropped as much as 3 to 4 inches of rain, causing flash flooding in the town of Atwood in Douglas County.
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 — Jun 3, 2020
A stationary frontal boundary extending from southern Lake Michigan to northern Missouri triggered clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms across portions of central Illinois during the evening of June 3rd into the pre-dawn hours of June 4th. Some of the cells produced damaging wind gusts of around 60mph, hail as large as quarters, and torrential downpours. Three to four inches of rain was...
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...
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 Douglas 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 Douglas 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.