Enter any address in Peoria County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Peoria County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 39 flash flood events and 10 flood events, which resulted in one fatality. Recent examples include isolated flash flooding in urban areas on July 2, 2023, and flash flooding associated with thunderstorms on April 20, 2023.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $8,854 and an average water depth of 5.2 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED and Zone X_UNSHADED have also seen claims, with average payouts of $5,312 and $7,263 respectively. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X_SHADED and Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
22 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Peoria County, Illinois has recorded 49 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 39 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 15 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 13, 2008 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Nov 30, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Illinois Winter Snow Storms | Snowstorm | Dec 11, 2000 |
| Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Snowstorm | Jan 1, 1999 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Feb 23, 1985 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 20, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 28, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 27, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 30, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 20, 2023
As a surface low pressure system tracked northwest of Illinois, semi-discrete thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front. These storms produced scattered large hail, as well as damaging winds, across west-central and central Illinois. Storms weakened by late evening as they moved into eastern Illinois.
Flash Flood — Jul 2, 2023
A low pressure system positioned over northern Illinois resulted in a band of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms that produced heavy rainfall. The rains resulted in isolated flash flooding in urban areas of Peoria County.
Flash Flood — Aug 2, 2022
A persistent frontal boundary draped across central Illinois continued to be the focus for strong to severe thunderstorm development during the morning of August 2nd. A low-level jet interacting with the boundary triggered the first cluster of storms across portions of Sangamon and Logan counties during the pre-dawn hours, with additional cells forming from Galesburg to near Lawrenceville as t...
Flash Flood — Apr 28, 2020
An approaching cold front triggered a line of strong thunderstorms across west-central Illinois during the late afternoon and early evening of April 28th. A few of the cells produced hail as large as quarters and localized flash flooding. Due to outflow and cell mergers, a brief tornado developed northwest of Dawson in eastern Sangamon County. Minor house damage occurred in Dawson as the tor...
Flash Flood — May 25, 2020
Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms developed along residual outflow boundaries from previous convection during the late afternoon and evening of May 25th. Despite weak wind shear and slow storm-movement, some of the cells produced wind gusts of 50-60 mph which created pockets of wind damage. In addition, locally heavy rainfall of 2 to 3 inches caused flash flooding from East Peoria east...
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 Peoria 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 Peoria 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.