Enter any address in Ford County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Ford County. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 19 flood events and 17 flash flood events in the county. Recent examples include localized flooding in Gibson City on August 16, 2024, following thunderstorms, and instances of minor flooding on June 18, 2025, due to heavy rainfall from a low-pressure system.
While most flood insurance claims in Ford County have been filed in Zone X, averaging $1,769 per claim with minimal reported water depth, this does not eliminate flood risk. Homeowners in areas prone to flash flooding, especially those near drainage paths or in low-lying areas, should remain aware of potential flood hazards.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Ford County, Illinois has recorded 36 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 19 river or area floods. The county has received 8 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1990–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Tornado | Apr 21, 2002 |
| Illinois Winter Snow Storms | Snowstorm | Dec 11, 2000 |
| Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Snowstorm | Jan 1, 1999 |
| Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 14, 1990 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 16, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 22, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 5, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 24, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 12, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2021 | 12.00M |
| Flood | Jun 22, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 10, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 29, 2025
A series of largely sub-severe thunderstorms moved across northeastern and east-central Illinois during the afternoon and evening of the 29th. A few storms were stronger than the rest producing damaging winds and heavy rainfall, namely in Ford and Lake Counties.
Flood — Jun 18, 2025
A large system of low pressure produced widespread thunderstorms which impacted northern Illinois on the 18th. The storms produced damaging winds and torrential rainfall leading to instances of minor flooding during the early afternoon with additional heavy rain continuing into the evening.
Flood — Aug 16, 2024
A line of mostly sub-severe thunderstorms produced several instances of damage to power lines around Streator as well as localized flooding in Gibson City late during the night of the 15th.
Flood — Feb 22, 2023
Freezing rain developed across portions of northern Illinois during the morning of February 22nd and continued into the early morning of February 23rd with the bulk of the freezing rain falling from mid afternoon through mid evening. Thousands of tree limbs and hundreds of power lines came down due to the weight of the ice and northeast winds gusting to 35 mph. Several trees also came down, i...
Flash Flood — Aug 5, 2023
Very heavy rain fell across portions of east central Illinois on August 5th which resulted in areas of flash flooding. The highest storm total rainfall amounts included 6.50 inches in Paxton and two miles west northwest of Loda; 6.34 inches two miles east of Claytonville; 6.28 inches four miles east northeast of Buckley; 6.00 inches one mile east of Loda; 5.97 inches in Buckley; 5.79 inches on...
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 Ford 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 Ford 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.