Iowa flood insurance and flood history
From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08
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
Show as a table
| Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 44 | $1.9 million |
| 2025 | 35 | $818,064 |
| 2024 | 254 | $14.3 million |
| 2023 | 77 | $1.3 million |
| 2022 | 1 | $712 |
| 2021 | 33 | $336,647 |
| 2020 | 35 | $316,394 |
| 2019 | 589 | $27.0 million |
| 2018 | 327 | $12.4 million |
| 2017 | 66 | $1.7 million |
| 2016 | 661 | $11.5 million |
| 2015 | 114 | $3.1 million |
| 2014 | 603 | $10.1 million |
| 2013 | 444 | $4.2 million |
| 2012 | 18 | $31,773 |
| 2011 | 504 | $12.6 million |
| 2010 | 698 | $19.7 million |
| 2009 | 94 | $1.7 million |
| 2008 | 3,267 | $169.2 million |
| 2007 | 245 | $4.1 million |
| 2006 | 11 | $10,733 |
| 2005 | 13 | $22,402 |
| 2004 | 245 | $2.9 million |
| 2003 | 15 | $12,317 |
| 2002 | 163 | $1.0 million |
| 2001 | 439 | $6.1 million |
| 2000 | 29 | $275,907 |
| 1999 | 1,121 | $8.0 million |
| 1998 | 201 | $1.6 million |
| 1997 | 175 | $1.2 million |
| 1996 | 185 | $2.4 million |
| 1995 | 9 | $5,598 |
| 1994 | 11 | $40,567 |
| 1993 | 1,789 | $26.2 million |
| 1992 | 18 | $27,685 |
| 1991 | 123 | $679,082 |
| 1990 | 874 | $8.4 million |
| 1989 | 6 | $4,803 |
| 1987 | 90 | $202,662 |
| 1986 | 177 | $706,235 |
| 1985 | 11 | $57,475 |
| 1984 | 116 | $401,800 |
| 1983 | 126 | $166,153 |
| 1982 | 212 | $444,961 |
| 1981 | 40 | $29,216 |
| 1980 | 76 | $165,820 |
| 1979 | 341 | $646,941 |
| 1978 | 63 | $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.
| Event | Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm | 2008 | 1,597 | $76.7 million |
| Midwest Flooding | 1993 | 1,393 | $22.6 million |
| March 2019 Midwest Flooding | 2019 | 323 | $17.8 million |
| June Midwest Flooding | 2024 | 159 | $11.1 million |
| Late spring storms | 2011 | 331 | $9.9 million |
| Flooding | 1990 | 672 | $7.3 million |
| Severe flooding | 2001 | 330 | $5.6 million |
| Iowa Flooding | 2024 | 18 | $1.5 million |
| Tropical Storm Erin | 2007 | 12 | $86,945 |
| Flooding | 1984 | 22 | $69,671 |
What flood insurance costs in Iowa
On June 30, 2026, 9,141 NFIP flood insurance policies were in force in Iowa. For the 5,653 single-family homes among them, the typical (median) yearly cost was about $1,040; the average was $1,170.
| Rated flood zone | Policies | Typical yearly cost, single-family home | Average cost | Average building coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-risk zones (A and V) | 5,819 | $1,060 | $1,260 | $151,000 |
| Moderate- and low-risk zones (B, C and X) | 3,322 | $1,010 | $1,000 | $198,000 |
Cost here is what FEMA's data lists as the policy cost: the premium plus the reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge. It covers single-family homes only (not condos, apartments or businesses), with costs rounded to the nearest $10 and shown only where at least 20 homes back the figure. Your own price depends on your building and the coverage you choose; see how flood insurance is priced. Private flood insurance isn't included.
Policies and average cost by exact flood zone
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; "typical NFIP cost" is the median yearly cost for single-family homes.
| County | Claims | Paid | Insured | Typical NFIP cost | Flood declarations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott County | 2,267 | $34.9 million | 0.9% | $1,210 | 7 |
| Polk County | 1,550 | $38.5 million | 0.4% | $810 | 7 |
| Black Hawk County | 1,472 | $27.3 million | 1.0% | $890 | 5 |
| Linn County | 1,351 | $69.4 million | 0.7% | $1,060 | 6 |
| Pottawattamie County | 867 | $11.1 million | 1.3% | $760 | 9 |
| Bremer County | 643 | $14.8 million | 1.1% | $1,140 | 5 |
| Johnson County | 446 | $31.9 million | 0.7% | $1,160 | 6 |
| Buchanan County | 375 | $3.4 million | 0.8% | $1,310 | 12 |
| Muscatine County | 355 | $5.6 million | 0.8% | $1,140 | 8 |
| Des Moines County | 352 | $9.4 million | 0.6% | $1,110 | 13 |
| Butler County | 316 | $7.4 million | 1.4% | $1,190 | 11 |
| Woodbury County | 294 | $2.0 million | 0.5% | $1,210 | 5 |
| Story County | 286 | $13.1 million | 0.3% | $990 | 8 |
| Floyd County | 264 | $4.5 million | 1.1% | $1,190 | 8 |
| Dubuque County | 252 | $2.2 million | 0.2% | $1,190 | 9 |
| Fremont County | 233 | $10.7 million | 1.3% | $1,190 | 5 |
| Cerro Gordo County | 216 | $3.5 million | 0.4% | $1,210 | 4 |
| Clayton County | 212 | $3.4 million | 0.9% | $1,210 | 13 |
| Harrison County | 192 | $3.4 million | 2.0% | $760 | 6 |
| Clinton County | 180 | $1.3 million | 0.5% | $840 | 6 |
| Tama County | 145 | $1.5 million | 0.3% | $890 | 7 |
| Lee County | 141 | $4.0 million | 0.1% | $1,260 | 11 |
| Cherokee County | 140 | $1.7 million | 0.8% | $1,340 | 9 |
| Jones County | 122 | $4.1 million | 0.3% | $1,260 | 8 |
| Mills County | 121 | $6.2 million | 0.5% | $1,210 | 7 |
| Louisa County | 120 | $4.5 million | 1.6% | $1,190 | 6 |
| Wapello County | 119 | $2.4 million | 0.1% | $1,190 | 8 |
| Benton County | 108 | $2.1 million | 0.6% | $1,090 | 7 |
| Delaware County | 105 | $4.1 million | 0.7% | $1,410 | 8 |
| Fayette County | 94 | $865,625 | 0.4% | $1,090 | 10 |
| Webster County | 93 | $2.8 million | 0.1% | $1,340 | 8 |
| Crawford County | 88 | $1.7 million | 0.0% | n/a | 5 |
| Montgomery County | 82 | $240,235 | 1.3% | $840 | 8 |
| Clay County | 78 | $5.5 million | 1.8% | $960 | 9 |
| Lyon County | 75 | $1.7 million | 0.7% | n/a | 7 |
| Cass County | 57 | $337,593 | 0.3% | $1,190 | 4 |
| Van Buren County | 53 | $545,932 | 0.6% | $1,340 | 4 |
| Sioux County | 43 | $4.0 million | 1.2% | $1,340 | 6 |
| Dallas County | 42 | $638,922 | 0.2% | $810 | 8 |
| Jackson County | 42 | $383,809 | 0.2% | $1,440 | 11 |
| Chickasaw County | 41 | $498,120 | 0.6% | $1,390 | 8 |
| Humboldt County | 39 | $231,008 | 0.3% | n/a | 10 |
| Cedar County | 38 | $973,789 | 0.3% | $1,440 | 7 |
| Jasper County | 37 | $1.3 million | 0.2% | $1,010 | 8 |
| Iowa County | 36 | $267,014 | 0.8% | $590 | 9 |
| Winneshiek County | 31 | $364,742 | 0.6% | $1,290 | 13 |
| Marshall County | 30 | $175,226 | 0.2% | $1,060 | 6 |
| Monona County | 30 | $700,670 | 0.6% | $960 | 6 |
| Hamilton County | 28 | $189,455 | 0.1% | n/a | 7 |
| Marion County | 26 | $486,469 | 0.1% | n/a | 4 |
| Mitchell County | 25 | $467,287 | 0.2% | n/a | 10 |
| Plymouth County | 25 | $605,550 | 0.2% | n/a | 4 |
| Warren County | 24 | $287,209 | 0.1% | $840 | 7 |
| Emmet County | 19 | $81,089 | 0.2% | n/a | 5 |
| Boone County | 18 | $447,510 | 0.2% | $1,260 | 5 |
| Allamakee County | 17 | $101,447 | 0.4% | $1,360 | 13 |
| Hardin County | 17 | $210,804 | 0.3% | $1,260 | 5 |
| Dickinson County | 15 | $311,028 | 0.2% | $1,490 | 6 |
| Shelby County | 15 | $257,666 | 0.3% | n/a | 6 |
| Washington County | 15 | $188,706 | 0.9% | $1,040 | 4 |
| Audubon County | 14 | $126,927 | 0.0% | n/a | 7 |
| Union County | 14 | $133,648 | 0.2% | n/a | 6 |
| Carroll County | 13 | $360,246 | 0.2% | n/a | 3 |
| Grundy County | 13 | $31,395 | 0.1% | n/a | 6 |
| Mahaska County | 11 | $134,429 | 0.1% | n/a | 6 |
| Guthrie County | 10 | $156,933 | 0.2% | n/a | 5 |
| Appanoose County | 8 | $103,432 | 0.0% | n/a | 8 |
| Howard County | 8 | $31,849 | 0.3% | n/a | 11 |
| Ida County | 8 | $35,667 | 0.2% | n/a | 7 |
| Decatur County | 7 | $24,323 | 0.0% | n/a | 6 |
| Madison County | 7 | $98,909 | 0.1% | n/a | 4 |
| Adams County | 6 | $220,922 | 0.1% | n/a | 6 |
| Taylor County | 6 | $27,871 | 0.0% | n/a | 5 |
| Lucas County | 5 | $19,113 | 0.0% | n/a | 7 |
| Worth County | 5 | $7,347 | 0.1% | n/a | 5 |
| Greene County | 4 | $6,005 | 0.0% | n/a | 4 |
| O'Brien County | 4 | $144,474 | 0.1% | n/a | 5 |
| Palo Alto County | 4 | $37,703 | 0.1% | n/a | 10 |
| Hancock County | 3 | $7,979 | 0.1% | n/a | 6 |
| Keokuk County | 3 | $31,712 | 0.0% | n/a | 6 |
| Page County | 3 | $6,833 | 0.0% | n/a | 4 |
| Franklin County | 2 | $41,006 | 0.2% | n/a | 8 |
| Kossuth County | 2 | $22,662 | 0.0% | n/a | 8 |
| Osceola County | 2 | $21,352 | 0.4% | n/a | 5 |
| Sac County | 2 | $0 | 0.1% | n/a | 6 |
| Winnebago County | 2 | $186 | 0.0% | n/a | 7 |
| Wright County | 2 | $2,369 | 0.3% | n/a | 11 |
| Buena Vista County | 1 | $0 | 0.1% | n/a | 8 |
| Henry County | 1 | $0 | 0.0% | n/a | 7 |
| Monroe County | 1 | $355 | 0.0% | n/a | 7 |
| Adair County | 0 | $0 | 0.0% | n/a | 5 |
| Calhoun County | 0 | $0 | 0.1% | n/a | 6 |
| Clarke County | 0 | $0 | 0.0% | n/a | 4 |
| Davis County | 0 | $0 | 0.0% | n/a | 8 |
| Jefferson County | 0 | $0 | 0.1% | n/a | 2 |
| Pocahontas County | 0 | $0 | 0.0% | n/a | 8 |
| Poweshiek County | 0 | $0 | 0.1% | n/a | 5 |
| Ringgold County | 0 | $0 | 0.0% | n/a | 7 |
| Wayne County | 0 | $0 | 0.0% | n/a | 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.
| Declaration | Declared | Event | Help 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:
- NFIP Redacted Claims (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP claims since 1978, downloaded 2026-10-08. Dollar amounts are what the NFIP paid, not adjusted for inflation. Claims filed under private flood insurance aren't included.
- NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (v1) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP residential policy contracts in force (as of August 3, 2026) divided by FEMA's count of residential buildings from the National Structure Inventory. FEMA notes that inventory is incomplete in some counties, which can inflate the rate. Private flood policies aren't counted.
- NFIP Redacted Policies (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP policies in force on June 30, 2026 (a policy counts if its term covers that date and it wasn't cancelled), downloaded 2026-10-08. Policy counts are FEMA's insured units, so a condominium association policy counts each unit. Costs are FEMA's "policy cost" (premium plus reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge) for single-family homes only. Policies FEMA's data doesn't place in a county count toward the state only.
- Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): disaster declarations, downloaded 2026-10-08. We count a declaration as flood-related when FEMA lists flooding (or a dam or levee break) as its incident type or a designated incident type, or the declaration's title mentions flooding.
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.