Enter any address in Jackson County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is a significant concern in Jackson County, IL. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 159 flood events and 44 flash flood events, resulting in one reported fatality. Recent examples include flash flooding in Murphysboro and near Tamaroa following torrential rainfall in July 2024, and localized heavy rainfall causing flash flooding in West Frankfort in September 2024.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, which typically have higher water depths and payouts, have experienced the most claims. However, properties in Zone X, though fewer in number, have shown significantly higher average payouts and water depths in claims. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in areas with unknown flood risk, should pay close attention to flood advisories and consider flood insurance.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
77 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Jackson County, Illinois has recorded 203 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 44 flash floods and 159 river or area floods. The county has received 15 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2020)
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 | Flood | Feb 24, 2019 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 8, 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 | Apr 28, 1996 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 15, 1995 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Sep 23, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2024 | 30.00K |
| Flood | May 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 8, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 26, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2023 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Jan 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 5, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flood — Sep 23, 2024
A SW to NE oriented heavy rainfall band crossed Southern Illinois during the late evening hours of the 23rd. A second band formed ahead of the first, and then merged together resulting in a localized higher rainfall total swath of 3-5 inches from Southeast Jackson County through Northwest Williamson County into Southern Franklin County. The highest observed rainfall total was a CoCoRaHS site 2 ...
Flash Flood — Jul 13, 2024
Isolated thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours on the 12th in the Quad State. Wind damage occurred in the town of Sesser, including tree and powerline damage. Storms from the previous evening in Sesser might have made some trees more susceptible to damage. Meanwhile, torrential rainfall with nearly stationary storms near Tamaroa produced flash flooding. Isolated storms continued ov...
Flood — Jul 13, 2024
Isolated thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours on the 12th in the Quad State. Wind damage occurred in the town of Sesser, including tree and powerline damage. Storms from the previous evening in Sesser might have made some trees more susceptible to damage. Meanwhile, torrential rainfall with nearly stationary storms near Tamaroa produced flash flooding. Isolated storms continued ov...
Flood — May 10, 2024
Heavy rainfall in early May, culminating in the May 8th severe weather and flooding event, resulted in rising river levels on the Lower Ohio, Big Muddy, and Mississippi Rivers, with Thebes returning to minor flood and Murphysboro, Olmsted, and Cairo reaching flood stage shortly after. Minor flooding in Southern Illinois around these river sites lasted 5 to 8 days with impacts limited to low-lyi...
Flash Flood — May 8, 2024
A major outbreak of severe weather occurred on the 8th for the Quad State region. On the synoptic scale, a longwave trough was centered across the Rockies with deep-layer southwesterly flow from the Southern Plains to the Ohio Valley. A 110 kt upper jet extended from northern KS to IA while a 60 kt mid-level jet was positioned across northern MZ into IA. Surface low pressure near the MZ/KS bord...
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 Jackson 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 Jackson 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.