Enter any address in Moultrie County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Moultrie County. Between 2000 and 2020, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 23 flash flood events and 7 general flood events. For example, heavy rainfall in January 2020 brought 3 to 6 inches of rain to the area, and in May 2017, rainfall totals of 4 to 7 inches were reported over a six-day period, with the Shelbyville Dam measuring 7.07 inches.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest average payouts and water depths, with an average payout of $11,895 and an average water depth of 6.3 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED also show significant claims, with an average payout of $6,268 and an average water depth of 3.6 feet. Homeowners in these zones, as well as those in Zone UNKNOWN, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Moultrie County, Illinois has recorded 30 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 23 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 10 federal disaster declarations. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1990–2023)
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 Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 19, 2010 |
| 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 Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 14, 1990 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jan 11, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 4, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 26, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 27, 2015 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 26, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jan 11, 2020
Several waves of low pressure tracking along a nearly stationary frontal boundary brought periods of locally heavy rainfall to central Illinois on January 10th and 11th. The front gradually shifted eastward into the Ohio River Valley and brought an end to the rain by the evening of January 11th. Storm total rainfall was heaviest in a corridor including Shelby, Moultrie, Douglas, Coles, Cumber...
Flash Flood — Jun 20, 2019
A wave of low pressure tracking along a nearly stationary frontal boundary triggered several clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms across central Illinois during the afternoon and early evening of June 19th. Two weak tornadoes briefly touched down producing minor damage; one in northeast Christian County and one in central Moultrie County. Other thunderstorm cells produced strong wind gu...
Flood — Apr 29, 2017
Heavy rainfall impacted central and southeast Illinois from April 29th into April 30th...creating flash flooding, which led to widespread areal flooding. Periods of thunderstorms with very high rainfall rates dropped 2.00 to 6.50 inches of rain across much of central and southeast Illinois from April 29th into early on May 1st. This rainfall, occurring on top of already saturated soils, created...
Flash Flood — Apr 29, 2017
Low pressure tracking along a stationary frontal boundary near the I-70 corridor brought widespread strong to severe thunderstorms to much of central and southeast Illinois during the late afternoon and evening of April 29th. A tornado briefly touched down in an open field northeast of Alexander in Morgan County. Elsewhere, thunderstorms packed winds of 60-70mph and caused significant wind da...
Flood — May 4, 2017
Another round of heavy rainfall occurred across central and southeast Illinois on May 4th, as an area of low pressure tracked from the Texas panhandle to southwest Indiana. Rainfall with this particular system was heaviest across south-central Illinois, with many locations along and south of I-72 receiving 1.5 to 2.5 inches. 6-day rainfall totals from April 29-May 4 ranged from 4 to 7 inches....
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 Moultrie 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 Moultrie 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.