Enter any address in Gallatin County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Ohio River is the dominant flood character for Gallatin County. Between 1994 and 2024, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 149 flood events and 22 flash flood events in the county. For example, minor flooding occurred along the Ohio River at Shawneetown in February 2025, with moderate flooding developing later that month. Earlier, in April 2024, minor flooding occurred along the Wabash River and downstream of the Wabash/Ohio confluence due to heavy rainfall upstream.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $21,362 and an average water depth of 8.0 feet. Properties in Zone X_Unshaded also show a history of claims, averaging $9,379 in payouts and 3.0 feet of water depth. Residents with properties in Zone A, Zone X_Unshaded, or those located near rivers and low-lying areas should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
52 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Gallatin County, Illinois has recorded 171 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 22 flash floods and 149 river or area floods. The county has received 11 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 (1973–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 8, 2009 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 26, 2009 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Record/near Record Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 21, 2004 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Tornado | Apr 21, 2002 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 1, 1997 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 28, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Feb 10, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 30, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 7, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 27, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 21, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 20, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flood — Feb 10, 2025
Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall over the Green, Tennessee, and Ohio Valleys from January 31st through February 15th resulted in rising water levels on the Ohio River. Minor flooding occurred along the Ohio River at Shawneetown beginning on February 10th and moderate flooding eventually developed from the 21st to the 26th when the river crested at 44.7 feet. Minor flooding continued into early...
Flood — Mar 1, 2025
A prolonged flooding event on the Ohio river, that began in the middle of February, continued into March at Shawneetown, Olmsted, and Cairo. Minor flooding of bottomland continued at all three locations. Heavy rainfall in the middle of February was the cause of rising river levels which lowered just below flood stage at all three sites from the afternoon of the 1st to the early morning of the 2nd.
Flood — Jan 30, 2024
Well above normal rainfall along the Ohio River Valley in January led to rising rivers, with flood stage exceeded slightly at Shawneetown by the end of the month, continuing into early February. Minor flooding resulted in very limited impacts in bottomland areas.
Flood — Apr 7, 2024
Well above normal rainfall upstream on the White, Wabash, and Ohio Rivers late March through mid-April led to minor flooding occurring mid-month along the Wabash River and just downstream of the Wabash/Ohio confluence in Southeast Illinois. River crests occurred between the 19th and 21st, with a swift decline in river levels bringing an end of flooding shortly after. Flooding of low-lying areas...
Flood — Feb 1, 2024
Well above normal rainfall along the Ohio River Valley in January led to rising rivers, with flood stage exceeded slightly at Shawneetown late January, continuing through the first week of February as drier weather allowed floodwaters to recede. Minor flooding resulted in very limited impacts in bottomland areas.
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 Gallatin 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 Gallatin 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.