Enter any address in Kane County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is a significant flood character in Kane County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 40 flood events and 29 flash flood events. For example, a series of thunderstorms brought torrential rainfall and widespread flooding to the Chicago metro area, including the west suburbs, on August 17, 2025. Additionally, on July 5, 2023, strong thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall and flash flooding in parts of northern Illinois, with some areas recording one to two inches of rain within 30 minutes.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims (493), with an average payout of $13,790 and an average water depth of 4.8 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have also seen substantial payouts, averaging $18,059, though with a lower average water depth of 1.4 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in Zone X_SHADED which has recorded the deepest average water depths at 7.7 feet, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Kane County, Illinois has recorded 69 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 29 flash floods and 40 river or area floods. The county has received 16 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1967–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 13, 2008 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 20, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Illinois Winter Snow Storms | Snowstorm | Dec 11, 2000 |
| Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Snowstorm | Jan 1, 1999 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 17, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 17, 2025 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Jul 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 17, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 30, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 26, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 17, 2025
A series of thunderstorms brought torrential rainfall and widespread flooding to much of the Chicago metro area, namely the south and west suburbs and up into the city of Chicago. Several Oswego District 308 schools received water and storm damage. Flood damages were estimated at around $288 million across the metro area, most of which came from the city of Chicago which alone accounted for rou...
Flood — Jul 13, 2024
Scattered thunderstorms moved across parts of northern Illinois during the afternoon of July 13th producing isolated wind damage.||Scattered thunderstorms developed during the evening of July 13th and continued into the early morning of July 14th producing significant flash flooding in Rockford as well as isolated wind damage.
Flash Flood — Jul 5, 2023
A cluster of strong thunderstorms brought damaging winds, torrential rainfall, and flash flooding to parts of northern Illinois during the afternoon and evening of July 5. Several rain gauges around the area recorded one to two inches of rain within a 30 minute period underneath some of these storms. The city of Chicago and its near-south and near-west suburbs were the areas hit hardest. Numero...
Flood — Jul 5, 2022
Scattered thunderstorms moved across parts of northern Illinois during the evening of July 5th into the early morning of July 6th producing scattered wind damage and flooding.
Flood — Jun 29, 2020
Scattered thunderstorms moved across portions of northern Illinois during the afternoon of June 29th.
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 Kane 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 Kane 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.