Enter any address in Greene County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along Iowa's waterways is the dominant flood character in Greene County. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 49 flood events and 14 flash flood events. For example, in March 2019, heavy rain combined with snowmelt contributed to river flooding across the region. Later that year, in May 2019, continued heavy rain and high streamflows caused rivers to flood again.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that while most claims are in zones with unknown flood risk, one claim in Zone X, an area with a moderate flood risk, resulted in an average payout of $5,505 with an average water depth of 1.0 foot. Homeowners and real estate agents should pay close attention to properties located near rivers and streams, as these areas are most susceptible to the types of flooding observed in Greene County.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
55 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Greene County, Iowa has recorded 63 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 49 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 (1969–2021)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Dec 15, 2021 |
| 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, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 19, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 25, 2008 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Feb 28, 2007 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Feb 23, 2007 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 24, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Mar 15, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Jun 25, 2015 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 25, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 25, 2015 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 6, 2015 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2013 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2010 | 25.00K |
Flood — May 24, 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 15, 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 14, 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...
Flood — Jun 25, 2015
A slowly northward moving boundary/warm front was draped across the area throughout the day. By the evening vigorous storms fired up just north of the boundary and continued as the low level jet began to pick up. Numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds were reported. Fairly quickly after sunset, storms transitioned away from multi-cellular severe to training heavy rain producers ove...
Flash Flood — Jun 25, 2015
A slowly northward moving boundary/warm front was draped across the area throughout the day. By the evening vigorous storms fired up just north of the boundary and continued as the low level jet began to pick up. Numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds were reported. Fairly quickly after sunset, storms transitioned away from multi-cellular severe to training heavy rain producers ove...
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 Greene 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 Greene 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.