Enter any address in Cass County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding events have been more frequent than general flooding in Cass County, IA over the last 30 years, with 34 flash flood events recorded compared to 17 flood events. Recent flooding has been influenced by factors such as heavy rain on snowmelt, as seen in March 2019, and intense rainfall events, such as those occurring in May 2019.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $7,375 and an average water depth of 0.8 feet. While Zone X and Zone X_UNSHADED have seen fewer claims, they have recorded deeper water depths in some instances. Residents in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those in Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
45 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cass County, Iowa has recorded 51 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 34 flash floods and 17 river or area floods. The county has received 19 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2021)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Dec 15, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Mar 12, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 19, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 25, 2008 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 5, 2007 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Feb 28, 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 | Sep 24, 2019 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2019 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2016 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 11, 2014 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 9, 2014 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 3, 2014 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 14, 2012 | 10.00K |
Flash Flood — Sep 24, 2019
A relatively routine setup for strong to severe storms took place on the 24th of September. A cold front entered the state from the northwest during the late afternoon and early evening hours, entering an environment with strong low level moisture inflow, SBCAPE values in excess of 2000 J/kg, and effective bulk shear around 40 kts. With frontal forcing and the aforementioned conditions, storms ...
Flash Flood — May 24, 2019
The setup over Iowa was primed for a heavy rainfall event for a few reasons, including persistent SW 500 mb flow, a strong and SW oriented 850 mb jet, strong low level moisture transport, and elevated CAPE around 1000-2000 J/kg. Precipitable water values, given the strong moisture transport into the area, rose into the neighborhood of 1.7 inches throughout the event as well. While effective bul...
Flood — Mar 14, 2019
Higher than average snowfall through the winter created a wet snowpack across much of Iowa which was still present into early March. A large storm system impacted the region through the middle of March which brought heavy rain and warm temperatures to the state. This system allowed much of the snowpack to melt across the state within a few days to a week. This heavy rain fell on frozen ground a...
Flood — Mar 13, 2019
Reports from the 13h through the 19th in this entry. ||A relatively deep and widespread snowpack existed across the region during early to mid March. Many areas in central and northern Iowa had around a foot to two feet of snow on the ground, along with many areas in upstream river basins in Minnesota and the Dakotas having similar or deeper snowpacks on the ground. Additionally, with the below...
Flash Flood — May 26, 2016
On the afternoon of the 25th, a cold front progressed into portions of central and eastern Nebraska and eventually stalled out in eastern Nebraska. During the evening hours storms that initiated earlier in the day in western Nebraska continued to make their way across Nebraska and into Iowa and produced a number of high wind, damaging wind, and hail reports. Prior to the main line, a severe s...
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 Cass 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 Cass 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.