Enter any address in Fayette County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms and river flooding are the primary flood concerns in Fayette County. Recent events include localized flash flooding on June 22nd, 2024, and river flooding along the Turkey and Volga Rivers due to rainfall and snowmelt on February 27th, 2023. Minor to moderate flooding also occurred along the Little Cedar and Cedar Rivers in August 2025.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $9,161 and an average water depth of 2.1 feet. However, properties in Zone X have seen higher average payouts of $15,567 with an average water depth of 3.6 feet, indicating significant damage can occur even outside of high-risk areas. Residents in or near floodplains, particularly those adjacent to rivers and streams, should be aware of their flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
39 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Fayette County, Iowa has recorded 72 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 28 flash floods and 44 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations, 10 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 And Flooding | Flood | Mar 12, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 19, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Sep 21, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Aug 23, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 14, 2014 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Aug 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2024 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Feb 27, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 28, 2021 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 28, 2021 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2020 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 20, 2018 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Sep 20, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flood — Aug 18, 2025
Heavy rain throughout the middle of August contributed to rises along many area rivers in northeast Iowa. This included minor to moderate flooding along portions of the Little Cedar and Cedar Rivers, as well as the Upper Iowa and Turkey Rivers.
Flash Flood — Jun 22, 2024
On June 22nd, an initial round of thunderstorms produced localized flash flooding in Fayette County. A secondary round of storms moved through northeast Iowa during the afternoon, producing localized flooding and wind damage in Allamakee County.
Flood — Feb 27, 2023
Runoff from the combination of rainfall and melting snow caused some northeast Iowa river flooding to occur along the Turkey and Volga Rivers in late February.
Flood — Aug 28, 2021
A complex of storms moved across northeast Iowa during the late afternoon and evening of August 27th. These storms produced two tornadoes in the vicinity of Marble Rock (Floyd County). The first tornado was an EF0 west of Marble Rock that only caused some minor crop and structural damage to a farm. The second tornado was rated as an EF1 that passed just to the south of Marble Rock as it moved s...
Flash Flood — Aug 28, 2021
A complex of storms moved across northeast Iowa during the late afternoon and evening of August 27th. These storms produced two tornadoes in the vicinity of Marble Rock (Floyd County). The first tornado was an EF0 west of Marble Rock that only caused some minor crop and structural damage to a farm. The second tornado was rated as an EF1 that passed just to the south of Marble Rock as it moved 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 Fayette 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 Fayette 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.