Enter any address in Macoupin County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates the flood character in Macoupin County. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 27 flash flood events compared to 1 such flood event. Recent examples include flash flooding reported on July 26, 2022, following intense rainfall, and on August 12, 2019, when storms trained over the same locations for over five hours.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that while many claims are filed from areas with unknown flood risk, properties in Zone A and even Zone X_Unshaded have experienced flooding. Claims in Zone A averaged $6,069 with water depths of 4.3 feet, while claims in Zone X_Unshaded, typically considered lower risk, averaged higher payouts of $9,326 with an average water depth of 7.0 feet. Residents in areas prone to rapid rainfall accumulation and those in lower-lying zones should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
3 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Macoupin County, Illinois has recorded 28 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 27 flash floods and 1 river or area floods. The county has received 9 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1982–2021)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Tornado | Dec 10, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 13, 2008 |
| 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 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 6, 1983 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 13, 1982 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 26, 2022 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 26, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 11, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 2, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 20, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 10, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 2, 2010 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 26, 2022
During the early morning of Tuesday, July 26th, 2022, a complex of training thunderstorms set up roughly along the I-70 corridor in Missouri and I-64 corridor in Illinois. Several rounds of thunderstorms with rainfall rates exceeding 2in/hr affected this area, including the St. Louis metropolitan area, through the early hours of July 26th and into the morning commute. Upwards of 11 of rain fell...
Flash Flood — Aug 12, 2019
Elevated convection developed in response to low level moisture convergence just north of a slowly retreating warm front. With very high precipitable water values in excess of 2 inches, this created very heavy rainfall rates as the storms trained over the same locations for over 5 hours. This caused flash flooding in a number of locations.
Flash Flood — Jul 20, 2016
A line of slow moving storms tracked south across west central, southwest Illinois on July 20th. Up to 4 inches of rain was reported with these storms, with locally higher amounts. There were several reports of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Dec 26, 2015
A prolonged period of rainfall occurred from the early morning hours of December 26th to the evening of December 28th. The heaviest rainfall occurred in a 50 to 75 mile wide swath from southwest Missouri through the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area and into central Illinois. Three day rainfall totals within this swath ranged from 6 to 12 inches, with lighter amounts extending both northwes...
Flash Flood — Jun 11, 2014
Strong surface low over southwest Missouri lifted northeast through the region. It triggered numerous showers and thunderstorms. A few of the storms produced damaging winds and flash flooding.
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 Macoupin 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 Macoupin 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.