Enter any address in Fulton County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the primary flood hazard in Fulton County, IL. Between 2000 and 2020, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 50 flash flood events and 19 general flood events, which resulted in 2 fatalities. For example, a derecho event in July 2024 brought heavy rainfall and significant damage to the region.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A experienced 248 claims with an average payout of $6,434 and an average water depth of 2.8 feet. Claims in Zone X_Unshaded, though fewer in number (4 claims), showed a significantly higher average payout of $40,524 with an average water depth of 2.0 feet. Properties in Zone X also saw high average payouts.
Homeowners and real estate agents should pay close attention to flood risk, particularly those in or near designated flood zones, as well as properties that have historically experienced flooding or have lower elevations.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
26 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Fulton County, Illinois has recorded 69 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 50 flash floods and 19 river or area floods. The county has received 20 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 (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Floodng | Flood | Jul 13, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Feb 24, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Nov 30, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 6, 2003 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Tornado | Apr 21, 2002 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 25, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 11, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 13, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 24, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 28, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 25, 2024
A cold front triggered a broken line of thunderstorms across north-central Illinois during the evening of June 25th. Some of the cells produced wind gusts of around 60 mph, with one storm dropping golf ball-sized hail in Altona in Knox County. Excessive rainfall rates from another storm created localized flash flooding in Canton in Fulton County.
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2024
On the evening of July 15, 2024, a derecho brought very strong winds, several tornadoes, and heavy rainfall to a good portion of the Midwest. Thunderstorms initiated over central Iowa during the late afternoon hours then quickly spread east-southeast through southern Wisconsin, the northern half of Illinois, southern Michigan, and the northern/central Indiana. The event produced significant tre...
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2024
On the evening of July 15, 2024, a derecho brought very strong winds, several tornadoes, and heavy rainfall to a good portion of the Midwest. Thunderstorms initiated over central Iowa during the late afternoon hours then quickly spread east-southeast through southern Wisconsin, the northern half of Illinois, southern Michigan, and the northern/central Indiana. The event produced significant tre...
Flood — Aug 11, 2023
Thunderstorms developed overnight across Iowa, ahead of a cold front, in an environment characterized by moderate instability and shear. The storms congealed into a line that swept across central Illinois during the early morning hours of August 11, producing scattered damaging winds before weakening after moving east of I-55. The thunderstorms produced locally heavy rainfall over 1 inch, which...
Flash Flood — May 13, 2022
A slow-moving cold front interacting with a seasonably warm and moist airmass triggered a broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms across west-central Illinois during the late afternoon and early evening of May 13th. One of the strongest cells within the line dropped golf ball-sized hail near Brooklyn in Schuyler County. Other storms produced excessive rainfall rates that led to minor fl...
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 Fulton 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 Fulton 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.