Enter any address in Jackson County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Mississippi and flash flooding from thunderstorms are the dominant flood types in Jackson County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 26 flood events and 20 flash flood events. Recent events include significant Mississippi River flooding in April 2023, caused by heavy snowmelt from upstream, which impacted numerous roads, businesses, and homes. Flash flooding also occurred in July 2025 following heavy rainfall from thunderstorms.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A and Zone X experience the most frequent claims. While Zone A properties have seen higher average payouts, Zone X properties have also incurred significant losses, with average water depths of nearly four feet in both zones. Residents in areas prone to river overflow, particularly those near the Mississippi River, and homeowners in Zone A or Zone X should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
16 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Jackson County, Iowa has recorded 46 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 20 flash floods and 26 river or area floods. The county has received 21 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 (1965–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 16, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 20, 2024 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 24, 2023 |
| 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 26, 2014 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 27, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 5, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 25, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 27, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 4, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 10, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 22, 2017 | 1.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 10, 2025
During the evening of July 10th, a line of thunderstorms developed and moved across eastern Iowa. These storms produced isolated large hail and damaging wind gusts in Johnson and Clinton Counties. Based on a video, an EF-U tornado occurred in Jackson county. These storms also produced heavy rain, mainly along and north of interstate 80. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4.50 inches were reported acros...
Flood — Jul 5, 2024
Rain that fell during the month of June across Minnesota and Wisconsin caused rises on the Mississippi River along the Iowa and Illinois border. Additionally, heavy rain that fell locally in July helped to prolong the crest and delay the river falling below flood stage, especially south of the Wapsipinicon, Rock, and Iowa Rivers.
Flood — Apr 25, 2023
Significant flooding occurred on the mainstem Mississippi largely due to the record snowfall this winter in Minnesota and Wisconsin, frozen ground, rapid snowmelt during the middle of April, and saturated soils. Major flooding was observed at all sites along the Mississippi north of Keokuk Iowa and most sites saw one of their top 10 crests on record.|This flooding had numerous impacts, with ma...
Flood — Apr 27, 2019
The Mississippi River remained high through the month of April due to a combination of snow melt and several rounds of heavy rain. Rain in the second half of the month caused the Mississippi River to rise back above major flood stage during the last week of April. The major flooding would continue into May.
Flood — Mar 13, 2019
Significant flooding occurred across eastern Iowa during the Spring 2019. Moderate to major flooding was observed on most Iowa tributary rivers due to snowmelt, frozen ground, ice jams, saturated soils, and rainfall from March 9th to 12th.The higher crests occurred on the Skunk, English, Cedar, Wapsipinicon, and Maquoketa Rivers in Iowa. Most of these rivers crested during the 2nd and 3rd wee...
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 Jackson 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 Jackson 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.