Enter any address in Putnam County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
2 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Putnam County, Illinois has recorded 14 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 11 flash floods and 3 river or area floods. The county has received 11 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1979–2020)
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 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Nov 30, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Apr 20, 2004 |
| Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Snowstorm | Jan 1, 1999 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 13, 1982 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Apr 30, 1979 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 10, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 10, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 12, 2008 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2007 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 30, 2004 | 10K |
| Flood | Feb 24, 2001 | — |
| Flood | May 31, 2000 | — |
Flash Flood — May 25, 2020
A warm front brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to eastern Iowa, northeast Missouri, and Illinois the evening of May 25th, 2020. Flash flooding, and damaging winds were reported.
Flash Flood — Jun 10, 2018
After an early morning flash flood event in eastern Iowa, with some damaging winds near the Mississippi River into far northwest Illinois, a line of slow moving supercell thunderstorms moved southeast from northern Iowa, into portions of eastern Iowa the evening of June 9th. Damaging winds, large hail, a few tornadoes, and torrential rain accompanied the storms.
Flash Flood — Apr 29, 2017
Scattered rain showers moved across western Illinois Saturday evening, as an area of low pressure intensified over southeast Oklahoma and northeast Texas. This low pressure brought a surge of moisture and heavy rainfall across the region Saturday afternoon, producing rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches across western Illinois. This combined with already saturated conditions led to flash flooding ...
Flash Flood — Jun 10, 2015
In the afternoon hours June 10, a slow moving intense supercell thunderstorm brought very large hail, strong winds, and flash flooding to Putnam county Illinois.
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2014
A strong cold front pushed into a very warm unstable air mass as a significant upper level storm system tracked into the northern Great Lakes on June 29-30, 2014. A major severe weather and flash flood event unfolded across the area. This event resulted in the direct deaths of 2 people and direct injuries to 7 others. Three weak tornadoes, widespread damaging winds of 60 to 80 mph, and life-thr...
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 Putnam 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 Putnam 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.