East St. Louis, IL Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
East St. Louis sits in the Mississippi River floodplain protected by levees. The area faces catastrophic flood risk if levees are overtopped or breached, as occurred during the Great Flood of 1993.
St. Clair County has recorded 1,468 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $7.8M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 5
NFIP Policies
1,177
St. Clair County
Avg. Premium
$1,152/yr
St. Clair County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: St. Clair County
Properties in St. Clair County have filed 1,468 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $7.8M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $5K.
Highest-Claim Years
1993
299 claims - $517K
1996
211 claims - $1.1M
1995
148 claims - $478K
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: St. Clair County
Only roughly 1 in 86 households in St. Clair County carries NFIP flood insurance (1% of estimated households). With 52 recorded flood events and $18.4M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
1%
roughly 1 in 86 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
1,468 claims over 45+ years across 1,177 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$5,317
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, St. Clair County has averaged 1.3 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 August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include East St. Louis.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: St. Clair County
St. Clair County has 80 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 3 severe repetitive loss properties. 1 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
80
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
3
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
1
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Federal Flood Disaster History: St. Clair County
St. Clair County has been included in 9 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 1 earlier declaration since 1969.
These declarations affected communities across St. Clair County, including East St. Louis.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: St. Clair County
NOAA has recorded 52 flood events in St. Clair County since 1996, causing $18.4M in damage.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: St. Clair County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 689 properties in St. Clair County, investing $6.4M 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).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
Levee Protection: East St. Louis
The USACE National Levee Database lists 4 levee systems protecting parts of East St. Louis. A system's FEMA accreditation status determines how its protected area is mapped: accredited levees are typically mapped as Zone X, while non-accredited or provisionally accredited systems generally leave their protected area in the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until certification is complete.
Blue Waters Pump Station #2
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Harding Ditch, Schoenberger Creek No. 2 and Little Canteen Creek, Schoenberger Creek - Sponsor: Metro East Sanitary District - 4.86 sq mi protected
MESD / Chain of Rocks East Levee System
AccreditedProtects against: Mississippi River - Sponsor: Metro East Sanitary District, USACE - St Louis District - 134.34 sq mi protected
Blue Waters Pump Station #3
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Harding Ditch and Schoenberger Creek No. 2 - Sponsor: Metro East Sanitary District - 2.31 sq mi protected
Blue Waters Pump Station #1
Non-AccreditedProtects against: HArding Ditch, Harding Ditch and Little Canteen Creek - Sponsor: Metro East Sanitary District - 6.74 sq mi protected
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: St. Clair 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: $71.7M
Hurricane Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $21K
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in East St. Louis
East St. Louis 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 East St. Louis are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $71.7M.
Riverine flood risk in East St. Louis 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 East St. Louis address.
East St. Louis, IL Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in East St. Louis, IL?
The most common FEMA flood zones in East St. Louis 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 East St. Louis?
If your East St. Louis 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 a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in East St. Louis?
Enter your East St. Louis 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.
How high is flood risk in East St. Louis?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, St. Clair County (where East St. Louis is located) has a "Relatively High" rating for inland flood risk. The estimated annual flood loss for the county is $71.7M. This county-level assessment considers historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
Has East St. Louis experienced major flooding events?
St. Clair County, where East St. Louis is located, has been part of 9 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng in 2024. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in East St. Louis?
St. Clair County has recorded 1,468 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $7.8M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1993, with 299 claims and $517K in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including East St. Louis.
How many flood insurance policies are there in East St. Louis?
St. Clair County had 1,177 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $1,152. The most policies are in Zone AH (499 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many East St. Louis properties have flooded repeatedly?
St. Clair County has 80 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 3 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Is East St. Louis protected by a levee?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 4 levee systems protecting parts of East St. Louis. Some of these are FEMA-accredited and some are not - accreditation status varies by system, and only the accredited ones map their protected area as Zone X. Levee protection is system-specific, not city-wide - check the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Can my East St. Louis property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in East St. Louis?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In East St. Louis's Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other Illinois Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any East St. Louis, IL Address
Enter a East St. Louis, IL address to view its FEMA flood map, 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 August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.