Enter any address in Madison County, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Madison County. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 23 flash flood events, resulting in one fatality. For instance, thunderstorms produced flash flooding in early August 2023, following heavy rainfall. Earlier that year, in April 2023, flooding occurred across portions of the region due to stationary fronts and heavy rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $18,638 for 1.3 feet of water. Properties in Zone X_SHADED also show a significant number of claims. While Zone X_UNSHADED has fewer claims, these have resulted in the highest average payout of $20,180, with an average water depth of 3.6 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and those in Zone X_UNSHADED should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
8 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Madison County, Missouri has recorded 25 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 23 flash floods and 2 river or area floods. The county has received 25 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 (1973–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 30, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires | Severe Storm | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 29, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Dec 10, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds And Flooding | Flood | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Dec 22, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 19, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2025 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 3, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2022 | 150.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 28, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 12, 2013 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
Flash Flood — Jul 7, 2025
Showers and thunderstorms initiated along and ahead of a quasi-stationary boundary during the afternoon of July 7th. The environment was characterized by high moisture and instability and weak shear, leading to gusty winds being the primary threat for the day. Thunderstorms overperformed, producing isolated wind damage and flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Apr 4, 2025
A stationary front over southern Missouri along with ample mid-level forcing, moisture, and efficient rain processes resulted in flooding across portions of east-central and southeast Missouri. Numerous roads across the St. Louis metropolitan area were impassable due to the heavy rainfall.
Flash Flood — Aug 14, 2023
A large complex of storms moved south across southeast Missouri with very heavy rainfall. Some flash flooding was reported in southern Madison County.
Flash Flood — Aug 4, 2023
A very unstable airmass with numerous sources of lift culminated in a line of training thunderstorms during the early morning hours of August 4th. This resulted in flash flooding and wind damage in portions of southeast Missouri.
Flash Flood — Aug 3, 2023
Thunderstorms developed over central Missouri during the early evening hours. They moved east/southeast through the overnight hours. Numerous large hail and damaging wind reports were received. During the late evening through overnight hours, widespread heavy rain fell causing flash flooding. There was fairly widespread 1-3 rainfall totals, with isolated 6-8+ in central Missouri and south-centr...
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 Madison County, Missouri:
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 Madison County, Missouri 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.