Enter any address in Madison County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is a significant flood hazard in Madison County, Iowa. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 34 flood events and 21 flash flood events. For example, thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall to the southern part of the state in July 2025, leading to flash flooding. Earlier, in March 2019, widespread snowmelt combined with frozen soils contributed to flooding across the region.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that while Zone A areas have experienced more frequent claims, Zone X areas have seen higher average payouts and water depths. Specifically, Zone A areas had 5 claims averaging $2,205 and 0.6 feet of water, while Zone X had 1 claim averaging $87,882 and 98.0 feet of water. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those in Zone X with a history of significant water depth, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
46 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Madison County, Iowa has recorded 55 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 21 flash floods and 34 river or area floods. The county has received 20 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 (1972–2020)
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, 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 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Dec 10, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2004 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding | Flood | Jun 13, 1998 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2025 | 200.00K |
| Flood | Mar 14, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2016 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Jul 29, 2015 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2015 | 150.00K |
| Flood | Sep 10, 2014 | 250.00K |
| Flood | Sep 10, 2014 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Sep 10, 2014 | 50.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 20, 2025
A moist and unstable environment on the southern side of an east-west oriented boundary brought thunderstorms to areas along and south of Interstate 80 in Iowa during the late evening of July 19th, 2025 and morning of July 20th, 2025. Despite 30 to 40 kts of shear, storms generally remained sub-severe as they tracked southward through Iowa. However, upon reaching the southern portions of the st...
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 — Mar 13, 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...
Flash Flood — Jul 19, 2016
A complex of storms worked their way across Nebraska overnight on the 18th into the 19th, eventually making their way into Iowa. As those elevated storms approached the central third of Iowa, the linear storms began to backbuild and with increasing convection behind them in association with ongoing warm air advection. Through the morning hours ample lightning was associated with the storms alo...
Flood — Jul 29, 2015
A boundary was pushing through the state with ongoing convection through central Iowa through the day. As the boundary neared the area, the convection intensified and impacted central and southern Iowa in the evening to early morning hours. Two thunderstorm complexes moved through portions of central and southern Iowa with very heavy rainfall causing flash flooding. The severe thunderstorm comp...
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 Madison 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 Madison 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.