Enter any address in Edgar County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms dominates the flood character of Edgar County. Between 2000 and 2020, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 37 flash flood events compared to 5 general flood events. For example, heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in Edgar County on July 19, 2020, and again on June 3, 2020.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that while most claims have an unknown flood zone designation, there have been claims in Zone A and Zone X. Homeowners in areas prone to flash flooding, particularly those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) determination or in lower-lying areas, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
13 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Edgar County, Illinois has recorded 42 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 37 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 9 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 (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 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 Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 14, 1990 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Jun 10, 1974 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 3, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 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 |
| Flash Flood | Apr 26, 2016 | 250.00K |
| Flood | Jun 19, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 3, 2022
A line of thunderstorms developed near I-55 along an outflow boundary during early afternoon and progressed east-southeast towards I-70 by early evening. The storms produced scattered wind damage, and a 61 mph gust was measured at the Decatur Airport. Heavy rain led to a few instances of flash flooding near the I-70 corridor during the evening.
Flash Flood — Jul 19, 2020
A cold front triggered clusters of thunderstorms across east-central Illinois during the afternoon of July 19th. Heavy rainfall of 4 to 5 inches produced flash flooding across portions of Edgar and Clark counties. As the front settled further southward, additional strong to severe thunderstorms developed along the boundary. One cell produced wind gusts in excess of 60mph and created consider...
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...
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 Edgar 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 Edgar 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.