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FEMA flood zones · statewide

Iowa Flood Zone Map

14,742 flood insurance claims·$344.5M paid·9,079 policies in force

Coastal high risk (V, VE)FloodwayHigh risk (A, AE)Moderate (X, 500-year)Minimal (X)Undetermined (D)

Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Iowa. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.

Flood Risk in Iowa

Iowa experiences a mixed flood risk profile characterized predominantly by riverine floods and flash floods, with NOAA records detailing 4,756 flood events resulting in 8 deaths and 2,606 flash flood events causing 10 deaths over the last 30 years.

Recent federal disaster declarations highlight the state's vulnerability to severe weather, with multiple declarations issued on June 16, 2024, for severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes. These repeated events underscore ongoing threats from severe storm systems impacting the region.

The distribution of National Flood Insurance Program claims indicates that residents in Zone A face the highest concentration of risk, accounting for 11,100 claims totaling $256 million paid, with an average payout of $28,189. However, flood risk extends well beyond high-risk zones. Significant payouts also occur in shaded and unshaded X zones, where 2,515 combined claims resulted in over $72 million paid, showing that property owners outside traditional high-risk areas frequently experience costly flood damage and face surprise claims. Zone X claims averaged between $34,958 and $38,299. Additional claims were recorded in Unknown, D, and V zones, though with much lower totals and averages.

Summary generated from FEMA disaster declarations, NOAA storm events, and NFIP claim data. Updated quarterly.

Iowa Flood Statistics

Total NFIP Claims
14,742
Total Claims Paid
$344.5M
Average Claim
$23,371
NFIP Policies in Force (Aug 31, 2026)
9,079
Average NFIP Premium (Aug 31, 2026)
$1,363/yr
Disaster Declarations
1,926
Peak Claims Year
2008 (3,267 claims)
Latest Disaster
SEVERE WINTER STORM (2025-03-19)

Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims, Policies, and Disaster Declarations data. NFIP policies in force and average premium (premium plus federal policy fee) as of August 31, 2026, from OpenFEMA.

Iowa Disaster History

Iowa has received 1,926 federal disaster declarations, including 729 flood and coastal storm declarations.

Where Iowa’s flood claims are

  1. Scott County2,267
  2. Polk County1,550
  3. Black Hawk County1,472
  4. Linn County1,351
  5. Pottawattamie County867
  6. Bremer County643
  7. Johnson County446
  8. Buchanan County375
  9. Muscatine County355
  10. Des Moines County352

NFIP claims by county, 1978 to date. Source: OpenFEMA. Counties ranked by recorded flood events →

The zones you’ll see on the map

Cross-section of a river floodplainDiagram: a river valley. The floodway is the channel and the land beside it; the 1%-annual-chance flood surface (the base flood elevation) covers the valley floor as zone A or AE; a narrow band higher up is shaded X, the 0.2% floodplain; higher ground is X.0.2% CHANCE A YEAR (500-YEAR)BASE FLOOD ELEVATION · 1% A YEARXAEFloodwayAEX
  1. A / AE Inside the 1%-a-year floodplain: about a 26% chance of flooding over a 30-year mortgage. AE has a mapped base flood elevation; plain A does not.
  2. Floodway The channel and the land beside it that has to be kept clear enough to carry the flood. Building here is tightly limited.
  3. X shaded The 0.2% (500-year) floodplain, plus some levee-protected and very shallow flood areas.
  4. X Outside both lines. No federal requirement to insure, which is not the same as no risk.

Every flood zone code explained →

Flood Insurance in Iowa

Properties in Iowa FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Iowa had 9,079 NFIP policies in force on August 31, 2026, and the average NFIP premium was $1,363 a year (premium plus the federal policy fee; the reserve fund assessment and HFIAA surcharge come on top, and nationally they make actual bills about a quarter higher). Under FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 each building is priced on its own flood risk, so a state average says little about what any one home will pay.

Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from properties outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Iowa residents can purchase flood insurance through the NFIP or private insurers.

Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.

See the most flood-prone counties in Iowa →

Iowa Counties (99)

Select a county to view local flood zone data and disaster history:

Iowa Cities (85)

Select a city to check flood zone information: