Enter any address in Monroe County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Monroe County. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 19 flash flood events and 12 flood events. For example, heavy rainfall caused flash flooding on August 3rd, 2022, and slow-moving thunderstorms led to flash flooding on August 12th, 2020.
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $34,239 and an average water depth of 3.2 feet. While less frequent, properties in Zone X have seen higher average payouts ($39,096) and deeper water (5.5 feet), indicating significant flood risk despite fewer claims. Properties in Zone X_SHADED and Zone X_UNSHADED have had fewer claims and lower average water depths.
Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X should pay the most attention to flood risk. Residents with properties located near rivers, such as those experiencing overflow as seen on June 2nd, 2019, should also be particularly aware of potential flood impacts.
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.
Monroe County, Illinois has recorded 31 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 19 flash floods and 12 river or area floods. The county has received 20 federal disaster declarations, 8 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2023)
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 Storms And Flooding | Flood | Feb 24, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 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 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 | Aug 3, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 2, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 7, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 19, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 11, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 3, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 18, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 22, 2011 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 3, 2022
During the afternoon hours of August 3rd, numerous thunderstorms developed across parts of eastern Missouri and west-central Illinois, triggered by strong surface heating ahead of a surging outflow boundary. These storms developed within a strongly unstable environment, featuring MLCAPE values ranging from 2500 to as much as 4000 J/kg and largely driven by the very warm and humid boundary layer...
Flash Flood — Aug 12, 2020
A quasi-stationary frontal boundary combined with an upper level disturbance to generate slow moving thunderstorms. This produced areas of very heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
Flood — Jun 2, 2019
After a very snowy winter across the upper Midwest and numerous rounds of heavy rain across the Missouri and Mississippi River basins through the spring and early summer months, the rivers rose to record levels. The flooding was not quite as high as 1993, but a number of sites had record river levels in the top 5.
Flash Flood — Sep 7, 2018
A combination of a stalled frontal boundary and the remnants from Tropical Storm Gordon brought several rounds of heavy rainfall to portions of Missouri and Illinois. The axis of heaviest rainfall was just south of the St. Louis metro area, especially over Monroe and St. Clair Counties in Illinois.
Flash Flood — Oct 19, 2016
Isolated severe storms moved across the region. Numerous large hail and damaging winds were reported.
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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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.