Enter any address in Morgan County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the primary flood hazard in Morgan County. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 32 flash flood events and 15 general flood events. Recent flash flooding occurred in June 2022 and August 2022, with heavy rainfall causing widespread issues. In June 2021, heavy rain also led to flooding across southern portions of Scott and Morgan counties.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A, which are areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding, have experienced the highest average claim payouts and water depths. Claims in Zone X, representing areas with a 0.2% annual chance of flooding, have also resulted in significant payouts, though with lower average water depths. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, particularly those without a confirmed Base Flood Elevation (BFE), should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
21 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Morgan County, Illinois has recorded 47 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 32 flash floods and 15 river or area floods. The county has received 17 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2023 |
| 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 | Flood | Feb 24, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Tornadoes And Severe Storms | Severe Storm | Mar 11, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Tornado | Apr 21, 2002 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 25, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 16, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 16, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2017 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 29, 2022
Numerous clusters of strong thunderstorms developed along an outflow boundary and ahead of a slowly approaching cold front during the evening of August 29th. Some of the thunderstorm cells merged and produced damaging wind gusts in excess of 60mph, particularly across Vermilion County. Excessive rainfall rates led to scattered flash flooding across central Illinois as well.
Flash Flood — Jun 17, 2022
A strong nocturnal low-level jet interacting with a nearly stationary frontal boundary triggered a Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) over northern Missouri during the pre-dawn hours of June 17th. The large thunderstorm cluster tracked east-southeastward along the boundary, producing significant wind damage and flash flooding. The storms were focused along and southeast of a Rushville...to Spr...
Flash Flood — Jun 25, 2021
A series of disturbances tracking along a nearly stationary frontal boundary resulted in two periods of heavy rainfall across parts of central Illinois on June 25th and June 26th. The hardest hit areas were across southern McLean County into far northern Logan County, as well as across southern portions of Scott and Morgan counties. The first wave of heavy rain began around 7pm CDT June 25th ...
Flood — May 16, 2020
Thunderstorms producing copious amounts of rainfall impacted the southern sections of Morgan and Sangamon counties during the afternoon of May 16th. While these storms pushed further east and only scattered lighter showers persisted, many area creeks and streams continued to rise through the evening of May 16th into the morning of May 17th. As a result, widespread areal flooding occurred from...
Flash Flood — May 16, 2020
Several clusters of slow-moving thunderstorms tracked along and just north of a warm front draped along the I-64 corridor during the afternoon and evening of May 16th. The storms dropped 3 to 4 inches of rain across the southern sections of Scott, Morgan, and Sangamon counties...including 3.84 just southeast of Curran in Sangamon County and 3.05 in Murrayville in Morgan County. The heavy rain...
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 Morgan 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 Morgan 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.