Flood Help Guide

Iowa flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

14,788NFIP flood claims since 1978
$358.2 millionPaid on those claims
$48,076Average paid claimlast 10 years
0.5%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
28Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 14,788 flood insurance claims in Iowa since 1978. The NFIP paid $358.2 million on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 2008, with 3,267, mostly from Storm.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 1,461 claims, and the average paid claim was $48,076.

22% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 0.5% of homes in Iowa had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (6,602 of 1,396,605 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 14% (4,307 of 30,404).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 28 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Iowa. The most recent was DR-4942-IA (Severe Storms and Flooding), declared September 1, 2026.

Flood insurance claims in Iowa by year

NFIP flood claims per year in Iowa, 1978 to 202601.2k2.5k3.8k5k1978: 63 claims, $178,842 paid1979: 341 claims, $646,941 paid1980: 76 claims, $165,820 paid19801981: 40 claims, $29,216 paid1982: 212 claims, $444,961 paid1983: 126 claims, $166,153 paid1984: 116 claims, $401,800 paid1985: 11 claims, $57,475 paid1986: 177 claims, $706,235 paid1987: 90 claims, $202,662 paid1989: 6 claims, $4,803 paid1990: 874 claims, $8.4 million paid19901991: 123 claims, $679,082 paid1992: 18 claims, $27,685 paid1993: 1,789 claims, $26.2 million paid1994: 11 claims, $40,567 paid1995: 9 claims, $5,598 paid1996: 185 claims, $2.4 million paid1997: 175 claims, $1.2 million paid1998: 201 claims, $1.6 million paid1999: 1,121 claims, $8.0 million paid2000: 29 claims, $275,907 paid20002001: 439 claims, $6.1 million paid2002: 163 claims, $1.0 million paid2003: 15 claims, $12,317 paid2004: 245 claims, $2.9 million paid2005: 13 claims, $22,402 paid2006: 11 claims, $10,733 paid2007: 245 claims, $4.1 million paid2008: 3,267 claims, $169.2 million paid2009: 94 claims, $1.7 million paid2010: 698 claims, $19.7 million paid20102011: 504 claims, $12.6 million paid2012: 18 claims, $31,773 paid2013: 444 claims, $4.2 million paid2014: 603 claims, $10.1 million paid2015: 114 claims, $3.1 million paid2016: 661 claims, $11.5 million paid2017: 66 claims, $1.7 million paid2018: 327 claims, $12.4 million paid2019: 589 claims, $27.0 million paid2020: 35 claims, $316,394 paid20202021: 33 claims, $336,647 paid2022: 1 claims, $712 paid2023: 77 claims, $1.3 million paid2024: 254 claims, $14.3 million paid2025: 35 claims, $818,064 paid2026: 44 claims, $1.9 million paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
202644$1.9 million
202535$818,064
2024254$14.3 million
202377$1.3 million
20221$712
202133$336,647
202035$316,394
2019589$27.0 million
2018327$12.4 million
201766$1.7 million
2016661$11.5 million
2015114$3.1 million
2014603$10.1 million
2013444$4.2 million
201218$31,773
2011504$12.6 million
2010698$19.7 million
200994$1.7 million
20083,267$169.2 million
2007245$4.1 million
200611$10,733
200513$22,402
2004245$2.9 million
200315$12,317
2002163$1.0 million
2001439$6.1 million
200029$275,907
19991,121$8.0 million
1998201$1.6 million
1997175$1.2 million
1996185$2.4 million
19959$5,598
199411$40,567
19931,789$26.2 million
199218$27,685
1991123$679,082
1990874$8.4 million
19896$4,803
198790$202,662
1986177$706,235
198511$57,475
1984116$401,800
1983126$166,153
1982212$444,961
198140$29,216
198076$165,820
1979341$646,941
197863$178,842

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Iowa, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
Storm20081,597$76.7 million
Midwest Flooding19931,393$22.6 million
March 2019 Midwest Flooding2019323$17.8 million
June Midwest Flooding2024159$11.1 million
Late spring storms2011331$9.9 million
Flooding1990672$7.3 million
Severe flooding2001330$5.6 million
Iowa Flooding202418$1.5 million
Tropical Storm Erin200712$86,945
Flooding198422$69,671

Flood history by county

Every Iowa county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredFlood declarations
Scott County2,267$34.9 million0.9%7
Polk County1,550$38.5 million0.4%7
Black Hawk County1,472$27.3 million1.0%5
Linn County1,351$69.4 million0.7%6
Pottawattamie County867$11.1 million1.3%9
Bremer County643$14.8 million1.1%5
Johnson County446$31.9 million0.7%6
Buchanan County375$3.4 million0.8%12
Muscatine County355$5.6 million0.8%8
Des Moines County352$9.4 million0.6%13
Butler County316$7.4 million1.4%11
Woodbury County294$2.0 million0.5%5
Story County286$13.1 million0.3%8
Floyd County264$4.5 million1.1%8
Dubuque County252$2.2 million0.2%9
Fremont County233$10.7 million1.3%5
Cerro Gordo County216$3.5 million0.4%4
Clayton County212$3.4 million0.9%13
Harrison County192$3.4 million2.0%6
Clinton County180$1.3 million0.5%6
Tama County145$1.5 million0.3%7
Lee County141$4.0 million0.1%11
Cherokee County140$1.7 million0.8%9
Jones County122$4.1 million0.3%8
Mills County121$6.2 million0.5%7
Louisa County120$4.5 million1.6%6
Wapello County119$2.4 million0.1%8
Benton County108$2.1 million0.6%7
Delaware County105$4.1 million0.7%8
Fayette County94$865,6250.4%10
Webster County93$2.8 million0.1%8
Crawford County88$1.7 million0.0%5
Montgomery County82$240,2351.3%8
Clay County78$5.5 million1.8%9
Lyon County75$1.7 million0.7%7
Cass County57$337,5930.3%4
Van Buren County53$545,9320.6%4
Sioux County43$4.0 million1.2%6
Dallas County42$638,9220.2%8
Jackson County42$383,8090.2%11
Chickasaw County41$498,1200.6%8
Humboldt County39$231,0080.3%10
Cedar County38$973,7890.3%7
Jasper County37$1.3 million0.2%8
Iowa County36$267,0140.8%9
Winneshiek County31$364,7420.6%13
Marshall County30$175,2260.2%6
Monona County30$700,6700.6%6
Hamilton County28$189,4550.1%7
Marion County26$486,4690.1%4
Mitchell County25$467,2870.2%10
Plymouth County25$605,5500.2%4
Warren County24$287,2090.1%7
Emmet County19$81,0890.2%5
Boone County18$447,5100.2%5
Allamakee County17$101,4470.4%13
Hardin County17$210,8040.3%5
Dickinson County15$311,0280.2%6
Shelby County15$257,6660.3%6
Washington County15$188,7060.9%4
Audubon County14$126,9270.0%7
Union County14$133,6480.2%6
Carroll County13$360,2460.2%3
Grundy County13$31,3950.1%6
Mahaska County11$134,4290.1%6
Guthrie County10$156,9330.2%5
Appanoose County8$103,4320.0%8
Howard County8$31,8490.3%11
Ida County8$35,6670.2%7
Decatur County7$24,3230.0%6
Madison County7$98,9090.1%4
Adams County6$220,9220.1%6
Taylor County6$27,8710.0%5
Lucas County5$19,1130.0%7
Worth County5$7,3470.1%5
Greene County4$6,0050.0%4
O'Brien County4$144,4740.1%5
Palo Alto County4$37,7030.1%10
Hancock County3$7,9790.1%6
Keokuk County3$31,7120.0%6
Page County3$6,8330.0%4
Franklin County2$41,0060.2%8
Kossuth County2$22,6620.0%8
Osceola County2$21,3520.4%5
Sac County2$00.1%6
Winnebago County2$1860.0%7
Wright County2$2,3690.3%11
Buena Vista County1$00.1%8
Henry County1$00.0%7
Monroe County1$3550.0%7
Adair County0$00.0%5
Calhoun County0$00.1%6
Clarke County0$00.0%4
Davis County0$00.0%8
Jefferson County0$00.1%2
Pocahontas County0$00.0%8
Poweshiek County0$00.1%5
Ringgold County0$00.0%7
Wayne County0$00.0%8

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Iowa

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4942-IA Sep 1, 2026 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4796-IA Jun 24, 2024 Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes Yes
DR-4784-IA May 24, 2024 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-4732-IA Aug 25, 2023 Flooding No
DR-4430-IA Apr 29, 2019 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4421-IA Mar 23, 2019 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-4386-IA Aug 20, 2018 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4334-IA Aug 27, 2017 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4289-IA Oct 31, 2016 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4281-IA Sep 29, 2016 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4234-IA Jul 31, 2015 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4187-IA Aug 5, 2014 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4184-IA Jul 24, 2014 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4181-IA Jul 14, 2014 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4135-IA Jul 31, 2013 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4126-IA Jul 2, 2013 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4119-IA May 31, 2013 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4018-IA Aug 30, 2011 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4016-IA Aug 24, 2011 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-1998-IA Jun 27, 2011 Flooding Yes
DR-1930-IA Jul 29, 2010 Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes Yes
DR-1928-IA Jul 27, 2010 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1763-IA May 27, 2008 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding Yes
DR-1727-IA Sep 14, 2007 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1705-IA May 25, 2007 Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes Yes

Showing the 25 most recent of 28.

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.