Enter any address in Shelby County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the primary flood hazard in Shelby County, IL. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 53 flash flood events and 10 flood events. For example, on March 31, 2022, rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches caused localized flash flooding on rural roads southwest of Shelbyville, leading to a fatality when a vehicle was swept away. Similar conditions occurred on July 20, 2023, with scattered flash flooding reported south of Shelbyville.
While most flood events are related to heavy rainfall, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that some claims originate from areas with an unknown flood zone designation. These claims have averaged payouts of $21,643. Homeowners in areas prone to flash flooding, particularly those near rural roads or in undeveloped areas, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
27 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Shelby County, Illinois has recorded 63 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 53 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 10 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1990–2021)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| 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 |
| Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Snowstorm | Jan 1, 1999 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Severe Storm | May 15, 1990 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 31, 2022 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 3, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 30, 2020 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 11, 2020 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 20, 2025
An outflow boundary interacting with a very moist airmass characterized by surface dewpoints in the middle to upper 70s triggered clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms across south-central Illinois during the afternoon and evening of July 20th. Scattered wind damage and flash flooding occurred...mainly south of a Shelbyville to Marshall line.
Flood — Jul 20, 2025
An outflow boundary interacting with a very moist airmass characterized by surface dewpoints in the middle to upper 70s triggered clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms across south-central Illinois during the afternoon and evening of July 20th. Scattered wind damage and flash flooding occurred...mainly south of a Shelbyville to Marshall line.
Flash Flood — Mar 31, 2022
A strong cold front brought widespread showers and thunderstorms to central Illinois from the afternoon of March 30th through the pre-dawn hours of March 31st. 24-hour rainfall totals ranged from 2 to 3 inches, which caused localized flash flooding of a few rural roads. A man tried to drive across a flooded roadway southwest of Shelbyville in Shelby County at around 7:30am CDT on March 31st. ...
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 — Aug 9, 2022
A cluster of thunderstorms developed in the evening near the I-70 corridor ahead of a slow moving cold front. These thunderstorms produced heavy rain and isolated flash flooding across southeast Illinois, with some locations observing rainfall rates that exceeded 2 inches per hour. An additional cluster of thunderstorms moved across the same areas early on the morning of August 9th, producing m...
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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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.