Enter any address in Macon County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Macon County. Between 1996 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 42 flash flood events compared to 3 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding near Long Creek in May 2024 due to strong thunderstorms, and isolated flash flooding in Decatur in August 2025 from excessive rainfall rates.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $7,444 and an average water depth of 2.7 feet. However, properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have seen the highest average payouts at $15,007, with an average water depth of 4.7 feet, despite fewer claims. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_UNSHADED, as well as those in areas with unknown flood zone designations, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
16 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Macon County, Illinois has recorded 45 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 42 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 11 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1974–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Nov 30, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Tornado | Apr 21, 2002 |
| Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Snowstorm | Jan 1, 1999 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Apr 18, 1996 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Apr 30, 1979 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Jun 10, 1974 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 4, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 3, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 3, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 3, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 19, 2025
Slow-moving thunderstorms dropped very heavy rainfall across southern Clay County from mid-morning through mid-afternoon of July 19th. Rainfall amounts of 6-8 inches were common along and south of US-50, resulting in significant flash flooding from Xenia to Flora. Further north, rainfall of 3-4 inches caused minor street flooding in parts of Decatur in Macon County.
Flash Flood — Aug 12, 2025
A pre-frontal trough interacting with a seasonably warm and moist airmass triggered a couple bands of thunderstorms across central Illinois during the afternoon and evening of August 12th. One of the strongest cells produced excessive rainfall rates and caused isolated flash flooding in Decatur in Macon County.
Flash Flood — May 19, 2024
An upper-level disturbance interacting with a stationary frontal boundary draped across central Illinois triggered clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of May 19th. Some of the cells produced flash flooding and hail as large as ping pong balls near Long Creek in Macon County, while others caused isolated flash flooding in parts of rural Douglas County.
Flash Flood — Sep 4, 2022
Several waves of low pressure tracking along a nearly stationary frontal boundary draped along I-70 triggered a band of showers and thunderstorms across central Illinois during the afternoon of September 4th. The band developed along I-72 and produced rainfall of 1.50 to 2.50. With thunderstorms the night before already saturating the ground, this additional rainfall led to isolated flash flo...
Flash Flood — Sep 3, 2022
A slowly approaching cold front triggered numerous clusters of thunderstorms across central Illinois during the evening of September 3rd into the early morning of September 4th. Some of the storms produced locally heavy rainfall of 2 to 3 inches and isolated flash flooding. The hardest hit location was Decatur, where widespread street flooding occurred.
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 Macon 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 Macon 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.