Enter any address in Union County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the primary flood concern in Union County, IL. The NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 43 flood events and 26 flash flood events in the county over the last 30 years, with flash flooding resulting in two fatalities. Recent examples include flash flooding in July 2024 near Tamaroa and Murphysboro following torrential rainfall, and widespread flooding in January 2020 across southern Illinois, including Union County, due to heavy rainfall of 2 to 5 inches.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A, designated flood hazard areas, have experienced the majority of claims, with an average payout of $4,542 and an average water depth of 1.7 feet. While Zone X_Unshaded areas have had fewer claims, one claim averaged $6,002, indicating potential for significant damage even in lower-risk zones. Residents in designated flood zones (Zone A), those near waterways, and homeowners in areas with unknown flood risk should pay particular attention to flood preparedness.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
28 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Union County, Illinois has recorded 69 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 26 flash floods and 43 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 (1969–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Feb 24, 2019 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 8, 2009 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 26, 2009 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Record/near Record Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 21, 2004 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 6, 2003 |
| 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 | Jul 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 31, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2020 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 17, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 11, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2019 | 30.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flood | Mar 9, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 7, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2019 | 30.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2019 | 500.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 13, 2024
Isolated thunderstorms developed during the afternoon hours on the 12th in the Quad State. Wind damage occurred in the town of Sesser, including tree and powerline damage. Storms from the previous evening in Sesser might have made some trees more susceptible to damage. Meanwhile, torrential rainfall with nearly stationary storms near Tamaroa produced flash flooding. Isolated storms continued ov...
Flood — Mar 31, 2023
Isolated severe thunderstorms, including a couple of supercells, produced several damaging wind events and large hail. A potent 500 mb jet streak ejected east-northeast from the Texas panhandle and western Oklahoma to the south of a mid-level low over northern Nebraska. A 992-mb surface low over western Iowa deepened as it moved into the upper Mississippi Valley. The storms formed along the le...
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2020
Large clusters of thunderstorms during the early morning hours produced locally excessive rainfall. The storms occurred ahead of a very compact disturbance in the upper levels of the atmosphere over areas of far west central Illinois. A shortwave trough axis extended south from the disturbance. The air mass across the region was very moist, with precipitable water values around 2 inches. There ...
Flash Flood — Jul 17, 2020
Showers and thunderstorms developed along a surface warm front that lifted slowly north across western Kentucky and southern Illinois in the afternoon. Soils were quite saturated from recent heavy rains, causing rapid runoff and isolated flash flooding. Precipitable water values ranged from 2 to 2.25 inches along the front. The heavy rain potential was limited by weak 850 mb winds around 10 kno...
Flash Flood — Jan 11, 2020
An unseasonably strong storm system impacted the region January 10-11. Heavy rainfall, flooding, isolated damaging winds, a brief tornado, and gusty non-thunderstorm winds impacted southern Illinois during this time. The bulk of the event occurred overnight and into the morning hours on the 11th. Rainfall totals ranged from 2 to 5 inches, which resulted in widespread areal flooding and isolated...
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 Union 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 Union 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.