Enter any address in Lawrence County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Lawrence County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 39 flash flood events and 11 flood events. For example, on April 5, 2025, rainfall of 3 to 5 inches caused flooding, and on April 2, 2025, Indian Creek overflowed its banks, closing South Main Street in Bridgeport.
NFIP claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced flooding, with an average payout of $19,590 and an average water depth of 0.8 feet. Properties in Zone X also show significant payouts, averaging $21,009 with 1.0 foot of water depth. Homeowners in these zones, as well as those in Zone UNKNOWN with a high average payout and water depth, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
23 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lawrence County, Illinois has recorded 50 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 39 flash floods and 11 river or area floods. The county has received 9 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 (1996–2020)
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 Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2008 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 2, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 7, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 8, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2025
A slow-moving cold front progressed across Illinois during the afternoon and evening of June 30th, 2025, interacting with a very moist, unstable airmass and resulting in clusters of thunderstorms. Eventually, these clusters of storms grew into a slow-moving complex that produced heavy rain along and southeast of the I-70 corridor, with rainfall amounts ranging from 1 to 3.5 inches. This resulte...
Flash Flood — Apr 5, 2025
Several waves of low pressure tracking along a stationary frontal boundary draped across the Ohio River Valley brought periods of showers and thunderstorms to the southern half of Illinois from April 3rd through April 5th. The heaviest rain occurred during the evening of April 4th into the morning of the 5th when amounts of 3 to 5 inches were common along and south of I-70. A Cooperative Weat...
Flash Flood — Aug 4, 2025
A weak trough of low pressure triggered a few clusters of thunderstorms across central and southeast Illinois during the afternoon and evening of August 4th. One of the most prominent clusters dropped 2.44 of rain in a short amount of time at the Lawrenceville Airport and caused flash flooding along Illinois Route 1 on the north side of Lawrenceville.
Flash Flood — Apr 2, 2025
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms occurred across southeast Illinois in advance of a warm front on April 1st into the early morning of April 2nd. Rainfall amounts of 1.50 to 2.50 were common...with a few spots approaching 3.00. Thanks to the heavy rainfall occurring on already saturated soils, numerous creeks and streams overflowed their banks. Indian Creek flooded, causing the closur...
Flash Flood — Jul 1, 2025
A slow-moving cold front interacted with a very moist, unstable airmass during the afternoon and evening of June 30th, 2025, resulting in a cluster of thunderstorms that produced heavy rainfall along and south of I-70 late that evening. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3.5 inches occurred, which resulted in a few instances of flooding beginning on June 30th and lingering into the early morning hours of...
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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence 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.