Enter any address in Dallas County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is a significant concern in Dallas County, Iowa. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 121 flood events and 53 flash flood events recorded in the county. Recent examples include flash flooding within towns following heavy rainfall on April 22, 2022, and flooding associated with snowmelt and frozen soils on March 13-19, 2019.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that while Zone A properties have had the most claims, properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have experienced higher average payouts and water depths. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone X, Zone A, or Zone X_UNSHADED should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
146 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Dallas County, Iowa has recorded 174 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 53 flash floods and 121 river or area floods. The county has received 20 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 20, 2024 |
| 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 | 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 | Jun 20, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 19, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 25, 2008 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 22, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 28, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flood | May 25, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Mar 16, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 15, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2018 | 25.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 22, 2022
A warm front moved across the area late on the evening of April 21 into April 22. While thunderstorms remained below severe criteria, deep saturation and precipitable water values over 1.5 inches allowed for a band of heavier precipitation to set up over a narrow corridor in central Iowa. Several locations received over 3 inches of rain and a few areas saw flash flooding within towns, resulting...
Flood — Jun 5, 2022
A shortwave trough dropped out of the Canadian Rockies and across the upper midwest. Storms developed along a surface boundary in the afternoon, resulting in a few hail reports and a strong wind gust. In addition to the moderate CAPE , the backed wind profile supported some rotation within storms. While no tornadoes occurred there was a funnel cloud reported north of the Des Moines metro. Late...
Flood — May 28, 2019
Heavy rain led to additional river flooding toward the end of May 2019. Some of the flooding on the Des Moines River at Eddyville was due to planned dam releases from Lake Red Rock combined with heavy rainfall.
Flood — May 25, 2019
Continued heavy rain and high streamflows led to many rivers going back into flood in late May across central Iowa. Several crests occurred on the Des Moines River at Ottumwa. Many of these were due to planned releases from Lake Red Rock, with some of the water from heavy rainfall.
Flood — Mar 16, 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...
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 Dallas 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 Dallas 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.