Enter any address in Wabash County, Illinois to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Wabash River is the dominant flood character for Wabash County. Between 2000 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 104 flood events and 18 flash flood events in the county, resulting in one fatality. Recent events include minor flooding along the Wabash River in April 2024 due to high rainfall upstream, and minor river flooding in April 2023 on several rivers, including the Wabash at Mt. Carmel which briefly reached moderate flood stage.
Additionally, heavy rainfall events have caused localized flooding. For example, in March 2023, scattered thunderstorms produced one to three inches of rain, leading to inundated ditches and flooded roads. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows 8 claims in Zone A, with an average payout of $3,461 and an average water depth of 8.6 feet.
Residents with properties located near rivers, in low-lying areas, or in Zone A, which indicates areas of special flood hazard where Base Flood Elevations (BFE) are not determined, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
52 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Wabash County, Illinois has recorded 122 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 18 flash floods and 104 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 (1989–2020)
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 Tornadoes | Tornado | Nov 17, 2013 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Record/near Record Snow | Snowstorm | Dec 21, 2004 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Tornado | Apr 21, 2002 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 28, 1996 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Severe Storm | May 15, 1990 |
| Severe Storms & Tornadoes | Tornado | Jan 7, 1989 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 26, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 25, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2022 | 4.00K |
| Flood | Jul 27, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 19, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 4, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 1, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flood — Apr 10, 2024
Well above normal rainfall upstream on the White, Wabash, and Ohio Rivers late March through mid-April led to minor flooding occurring mid-month along the Wabash River and just downstream of the Wabash/Ohio confluence in Southeast Illinois. River crests occurred between the 19th and 21st, with a swift decline in river levels bringing an end of flooding shortly after. Flooding of low-lying areas...
Flood — Mar 26, 2023
A nearly stationary front draped itself from central Texas northeast through the Ohio River Valley and produced multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms, some with very heavy rainfall. Scattered showers and thunderstorms resulted in several cases of flooding or flash flooding. One to three inches of rain fell across the region with isolated higher amounts before the front passed east on the...
Flood — Mar 25, 2023
A nearly stationary front draped itself from central Texas northeast through the Ohio River Valley and produced multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms, some with very heavy rainfall. Scattered showers and thunderstorms resulted in several cases of flooding or flash flooding. One to three inches of rain fell across the region with isolated higher amounts before the front passed east on the...
Flood — Apr 1, 2023
The river flooding that began in March ended during the first half of April. All or portions of the Ohio, Wabash, Little Wabash, and Big Muddy Rivers started the month above flood stage. Some moderate river flooding was observed in March, but the flooding in April was minor on all the rivers. The exception was on the Wabash River at Mt. Carmel, which briefly reached moderate flood stage on Apri...
Flash Flood — Jul 28, 2022
A large complex of thunderstorms moved east across southern Illinois during the afternoon and evening hours. Very heavy rainfall rates contributed to isolated instances of flash flooding. The complex of thunderstorms developed ahead of a 500 mb disturbance over central Missouri, which moved eastward into a very moist and unstable air mass. Precipitable water values were around 2.25 inches, and ...
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 Wabash 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 Wabash 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.