Enter any address in Benton County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Benton County. Between 2000 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 25 flash flood events and 19 general flood events. For example, on July 19, 2025, heavy rain on saturated ground led to flash flooding in Vinton. Earlier that summer, on June 9, 2020, Tropical Depression Cristobal brought torrential rainfall to the region, with localized amounts of 4-5 inches reported near Belle Plaine.
NFIP claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $21,564 and an average water depth of 3.5 feet. Properties in Zone X have also seen claims, with an average payout of $11,791, though the average water depth was higher at 7.7 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
13 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Benton County, Iowa has recorded 44 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 25 flash floods and 19 river or area floods. The county has received 18 federal disaster declarations, 8 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms | Severe Storm | Aug 10, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Sep 21, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 21, 2013 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2013 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 9, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 25, 2008 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Feb 23, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 22, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 9, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 30, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 12, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 4, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 25, 2016 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2016 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 19, 2025
A decaying line of thunderstorms moved into Benton County on the morning of July 19th. This produced heavy rain with trained spotters reports ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 inches of rain. This rain falling on already saturated ground led to flash flooding in Vinton.
Flash Flood — Aug 15, 2025
Hot weather resulted in daily episodes of clusters of storms with damaging winds, isolated hail, and some areas of flash flooding from August 12 through August 18th. The most widespread activity occurred August 15th, and 18th, when several lines of storms moved through the area.
Flash Flood — Jul 11, 2025
On July 11th, a line of severe thunderstorms moved across eastern Iowa and produced damaging straight-line winds, tornadoes and heavy rain. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches fell in a few hours across the Quad Cities, on top of heavy rain from the previous night and caused major flash flooding in Davenport. A Considerable Flash Flood warning was issued at 5:26 PM followed by a Flash Flood Emerge...
Flood — Jun 22, 2020
Numerous round of showers and thunderstorms moved across eastern Iowa during the day on the 22nd as a storm system interacted with numerous outflow boundaries and a quasi-stationary front across the area. These storms brought heavy rains of 1 to 2 inches in Benton and Buchanan Counties that caused flooding, as well as severe wind gusts in southeast Iowa.
Flood — Jun 9, 2020
Tropical Depression Cristobal tracked across much of the mid and upper Mississippi River Valley on the morning and afternoon of June 9, 2020. Very high levels of moisture were present, bringing very heavy rainfall to much of the region, especially eastern Iowa. Rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches fell roughly west of a line from Keosauqua IA, to Burlington IA, to Guttenberg IA. Localized amounts of ...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Benton County, Iowa:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Benton County, Iowa that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.