Enter any address in Buchanan County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Buchanan County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 60 flash flood events and 28 general flood events. For example, on July 23rd, 2025, heavy rain from thunderstorms led to flash flooding north of Winthrop. Another event on July 11th, 2025, saw 2 to 4 inches of rain in a few hours contribute to major flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with 271 claims averaging $8,060 and an average water depth of 14.5 feet. Properties in Zone X also show significant claims, with 41 claims averaging $11,128 and an average water depth of 14.6 feet, indicating that flood risk extends beyond designated high-risk areas. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those located near rivers or in areas prone to rapid rainfall accumulation, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
30 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Buchanan County, Iowa has recorded 88 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 60 flash floods and 28 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 11 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Mar 12, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 6, 2018 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 19, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Sep 21, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 14, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 21, 2013 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2013 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 25, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 22, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 10, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 1, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 23, 2025
Thunderstorms that develop late in the evening on July 22nd moved into Buchanan County around midnight and continue into the early morning hours. A warm and humid airmass led to heavy rain. The heavy rain led to flash flooding north of Winthrop in Buchanan County.
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...
Flash Flood — Jun 25, 2022
Several intense clusters of storms moved through eastern Iowa into Illinois. The morning cluster produced flash flooding. In the afternoon and evening, a cluster of intense thunderstorms moved through far eastern Iowa into west central and northwest Illinois the evening of June 25th, with torrential rainfall and wind damage along it's way.
Flash Flood — Aug 28, 2021
It rained very hard in northeast Iowa the morning of August 28th. Storms moved over the same locations for several hours, resulting in several inches of rain, and some flash flooding in portions of Buchanan County. The heavy rain near Independence and much of northeast Iowa produced flooding on the Wapsipinicon and Turkey Rivers, which was a unique situation since that area was in a severe d...
Flash Flood — May 28, 2020
A persistent band of moderate to heavy rain fell across Iowa, northeast Missouri, and northern Illinois the afternoon and early evening of May 28th. This band of rain brought some flash flooding to locations near Independence, Iowa.||In Illinois, stationary thunderstorms formed over the De Pue area, quickly dropped several inches of rain, and causing a significant flash flood in the small town ...
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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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.