Flood insurance in Illinois

Flood insurance policies, average premiums, flood zones and claims history for Illinois, county by county, from official FEMA records.

Policies as of 5 September 2026Source: FEMA OpenFEMA
Active flood policies
30,735
NFIP policies in force
Average yearly premium
$1,331
$61 above the US average
Claims paid since 1978
$596.0M
across 52,890 claims
Policies in high-risk zones
69%
zones A and V, where known

Flood claims paid per year

NFIP claims paid in Illinois, 2000–2026

The three costliest years. The worst was 2008, with $110.9 million paid on 5,357 claims.

Insured buildings by flood zone

Zone V / VE1%
Coastal high-hazard areas with wave action. Flood insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone A / AE68%
High-risk areas with a 1% chance of flooding each year. Insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone X, B, C31%
Moderate to low risk. Insurance is optional, and policies are usually much cheaper.

Zone not reported for 41% of policies; shares are of policies with a known zone.

Costliest flood events

Named events by NFIP claims paid in Illinois

EventYearClaimsPaid
Mid-spring storms20133,921$90.4 million
Midwest Flooding19932,892$60.5 million
Hurricane Ike20082,799$54.7 million
Flooding19961,737$18.6 million
Flooding19871,576$15.4 million

Flood insurance by county

Counties in Illinois with detailed pages, by number of policies. 59 smaller counties are included in the state totals.

CountyPoliciesAvg premiumClaims since 1978Paid
Cook County11,781$1,39615,260$139.8 million
DuPage County3,371$1,3203,607$55.6 million
Lake County2,239$1,2242,456$28.7 million
Will County1,186$1,4652,295$21.1 million
Kane County1,042$1,567929$11.6 million
St. Clair County1,028$1,1931,469$7.8 million
Madison County948$1,2311,087$8.0 million
Rock Island County811$9992,132$20.2 million
McHenry County805$1,339987$7.6 million
Winnebago County639$1,5911,729$27.3 million
Peoria County370$1,1702,547$23.6 million
Kankakee County308$1,697695$10.2 million
LaSalle County276$1,581680$12.7 million
Iroquois County259$1,223840$16.9 million
Monroe County185$1,161689$22.7 million
Woodford County104$899518$5.1 million
Jersey County96$1,8191,869$24.4 million
Calhoun County93$1,3591,690$16.8 million

Common questions

How much does flood insurance cost in Illinois?

The average NFIP flood insurance policy in Illinois costs about $1,331 a year. Your own premium depends on your building's flood risk, elevation and the coverage you choose.

How many homes have flood insurance in Illinois?

There are about 30,735 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in Illinois, according to FEMA's latest policy data. Private flood policies are not included.

How often does Illinois flood?

Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in Illinois have filed 52,890 flood claims, with $596.0 million paid out. 4,487 of those claims were in the last 10 years.

Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?

No. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies exclude flood damage. You need a separate flood policy from the NFIP or a private insurer.

How long until a new flood policy starts?

NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so buying when a storm is already forecast is normally too late. Exceptions apply, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing.

How to get flood insurance

Most flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program by regular insurance agents. Ask the agent who handles your home or car insurance, or find one through FloodSmart.gov, FEMA's official flood insurance site. Private flood insurers also sell policies in many areas and are worth comparing.