Illinois Flood Zones
Last updated: March 2026
Illinois faces major riverine flooding from the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, and Wabash rivers, as well as urban flash flooding in the Chicago metropolitan area. The flat terrain and clay soils in much of the state contribute to poor drainage and widespread flood risk.
7 of 102 Illinois counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. 58 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 40%.
Illinois has recorded 52,610 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $576.9M in payouts. See how Illinois compares in our nationwide NFIP claims data breakdown.
FEMA Region
Region 5
Also covers Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, +2 more
NFIP Policies
35,328
Avg. Premium
$998/yr
Illinois Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 102 Illinois counties.
Inland Flood Risk
7 of 102 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
0 of 2 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
0 of 102 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Illinois has received 20 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
Declarations by Decade
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 20 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Illinois properties have filed 52,610 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $576.9M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout in 2025 was $15,191.
Recent Years
Claims by Decade
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced March 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage in Illinois
Only roughly 1 in 143 households in Illinois carries NFIP flood insurance (0.7% of estimated households). 93 of 102 counties have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage. With 5,622 recorded flood events and $2.8B in damage, many flood losses in this state are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
0.7%
roughly 1 in 143 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
52,610 claims over 45+ years across 35,328 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$10,966
Per claim, state-wide since 1978
Historically, Illinois has averaged 1.5 claims for every active policy (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of March 2026, claims since 1978 (March 2026), population from FEMA NRI.
Repetitive Loss Properties in Illinois
Illinois has 4,502 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 502 severe repetitive loss properties. 281 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced March 2026.
Multiple Loss
4,502
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
502
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
281
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 4,367 of 4,502 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced March 2026.
Recorded Flood Events in Illinois
NOAA has recorded 5,622 flood events in Illinois since 1996, causing an estimated $2.8B in property and crop damage and 58 deaths.
Total Events
5,622
Total Damage
$2.8B
Fatalities
58
Events by Decade
Costliest Events
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Mitigation in Illinois
FEMA has funded mitigation for 6,439 properties in Illinois, investing $111.9M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
Properties by Action
Mitigation by Decade
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Mitigated Properties. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Illinois
58 Illinois communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Illinois range from 2 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 40%.
Class 2 - 40% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only. CRS classes and discounts are subject to change.
Illinois Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Illinois.
Illinois Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Illinois property is in a flood zone?
Enter your IL address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Illinois?
If your Illinois property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Illinois's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Illinois?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Illinois are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone AO, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Illinois property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Illinois property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. For properties in Illinois's AE and A zones, the LOMA process is relatively straightforward when the elevation data supports it. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Do any Illinois communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 58 Illinois communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 40% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.
How much does flood insurance cost in Illinois?
The average NFIP flood insurance premium in Illinois is $998 per year across 35,328 active policies. Premiums vary by zone: Zone AE policies average $1,099/yr. Under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, your specific premium depends on property type, elevation relative to the Base Flood Elevation, and distance to water, not just your flood zone designation.
Which Illinois counties have the highest flood risk?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Cook, DuPage, Will are among Illinois's highest-risk counties for inland flooding. Overall, 7 of 102 Illinois counties are rated "High" or "Very High" for inland flood risk. County-level ratings account for historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
How many NFIP flood insurance claims has Illinois had?
Illinois has recorded 52,610 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $576.9M in payouts since 1978. The highest-claim year was 2008, with 5,357 claims and $105.1M in payouts. This history reflects cumulative flood damage to Illinois properties across decades of storm and rainfall events.
How many Illinois properties have flooded repeatedly?
Illinois has 4,502 properties with multiple flood losses. Of these, 502 are classified as Severe Repetitive Loss, meaning they have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000 or more, or two or more claims where the total exceeds the building value. 281 of these properties have been mitigated.
What percentage of Illinois homes have flood insurance?
Only roughly 1 in 143 households in Illinois carries NFIP flood insurance (0.7% of estimated households). 93 counties in Illinois have elevated flood risk but low insurance coverage, indicating a significant protection gap.
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Illinois.
Insurance & Cost
Do I Need Flood Insurance?Flood Insurance CostsNFIP vs Private InsuranceRisk Rating 2.0Community Rating SystemBuying in a Flood ZoneFlood Zone DeterminationInsurance Waiting PeriodFlood vs Homeowners InsuranceInsurance Outside the SFHAZone X Flood InsuranceFlood Zones & Property ValueLook Up Any Illinois Address
Enter a IL address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on March 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. This page is for informational purposes only and is not a certified flood zone determination. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.