Aurora, Illinois Flood Zones
Aurora faces flood risk from the Fox River, which flows through the heart of the city. Heavy rainfall in the upstream watershed can cause the river to overflow its banks and flood adjacent neighborhoods.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Kane County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $99.0M
Hurricane Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $8K
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Kane County
Kane County has been included in 5 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
These declarations affected communities across Kane County, including Aurora.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Kane County
Properties in Kane County have filed 921 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $11.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $12K.
Highest-Claim Years
1996
193 claims - $4.1M
2007
109 claims - $1.7M
2013
104 claims - $1.2M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone AE
315
Zone A
279
Zone X
269
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Aurora
Properties in Aurora, IL are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Aurora
Aurora faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Aurora are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $99.0M.
Riverine flood risk in Aurora is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Aurora address.
Flood Insurance Discount: Aurora
Aurora participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 7
SFHA Premium Discount
15% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Aurora's Class 7 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 15% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Check Your Aurora Address
Enter any Aurora, IL address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupAurora, IL Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Aurora, IL?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Aurora are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Aurora?
If your Aurora property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) 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 federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Aurora?
Enter your Aurora address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Aurora offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Aurora participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 7 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 15% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Has Aurora experienced major flooding events?
Kane County, where Aurora is located, has been part of 5 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in 2013. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Aurora?
Kane County has recorded 921 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $11.2M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1996, with 193 claims and $4.1M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Aurora.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026