Enter any address in Delaware County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the primary flood concern in Delaware County, IA. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 30 flash flood events and 12 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on October 1, 2018, when 2 to 6 inches of rain caused road closures in Delaware County, and a heavy rain event on July 21, 2017, that dropped over 8 inches of rain.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties designated as Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $37,355 and an average water depth of 4.7 feet. While fewer claims have been filed in Zone X_SHADED and Zone X, these areas have also seen payouts. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X and Zone X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
14 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Delaware County, Iowa has recorded 42 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 30 flash floods and 12 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 (1968–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 6, 2018 |
| 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, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 25, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 1, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 22, 2017 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 21, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 23, 2016 | 150.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2013 | 50.00K |
Flash Flood — May 24, 2019
A warm front lifted northward into the area Friday, May 24, sparking widespread thunderstorms in the morning/early afternoon time frame and again in the early evening. Two tornadoes were occurred in McDonough County during the early afternoon. Towards evening, another tornadic storm developed, producing two tornadoes. The first occurred in Johnson County just southwest of Iowa City, and the ...
Flash Flood — Jun 9, 2018
After an early morning flash flood event in eastern Iowa, with some damaging winds near the Mississippi River, a line of slow moving supercell thunderstorms moved southeast from northern Iowa, into portions of eastern Iowa the evening of June 9th. Damaging winds, large hail, a few tornadoes, and torrential rain accompanied the storms. This event brought flash flooding, and led to some minor to...
Flash Flood — Oct 1, 2018
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms occurred along the Highway 20 corridor during the afternoon and evening hours. Spotters and Emergency Managers reported rainfall amounts of 2 to 6 inches on already saturated ground, which caused flash flooding of roads and along creeks and streams. Highway 52 in Dubuque County was closed along with roads in Delaware County and Buchanan County.
Flash Flood — Jul 22, 2017
Another round of convective storms fired along a stalled boundary and lasted overnight resulting in a major heavy rain and flooding event from 3 to over 8 inches of rain falling. Some storms become severe with damaging winds over 60 mph and isolated large hail.
Flash Flood — Jul 21, 2017
Another round of convective storms fired along a stalled boundary and lasted overnight resulting in a major heavy rain and flooding event from 3 to over 8 inches of rain falling. Some storms become severe with damaging winds over 60 mph and isolated large hail.
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 Delaware 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 Delaware 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.