Enter any address in Mahaska County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flood and flash flood events are the primary weather hazards in Mahaska County, IA. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data indicates 117 flood events and 29 flash flood events. Recent examples include heavy rainfall causing flooding on July 2, 2024, and widespread flooding due to heavy snowpack and rainfall on March 9, 2019.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $21,070 and an average water depth of 10.0 feet. Properties in Zone X have also seen claims, with an average payout of $5,463 and an average water depth of 1.6 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
114 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Mahaska County, Iowa has recorded 146 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 29 flash floods and 117 river or area floods. The county has received 20 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 (1965–2020)
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 | Jun 26, 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 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Dec 10, 2007 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 17, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 28, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flood | May 28, 2019 | 250.00K |
| Flood | May 28, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Jun 28, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flood | May 21, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 9, 2019 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 8, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 2, 2024
An area of low pressure with an associated warm front tracked over northern Iowa along with another warm front that lifted into near western/southern Iowa during the morning hours, which resulted in moderate to heavy rainfall over portions of the state. Scattered showers and storms continued across much of Iowa throughout the day, with PWATS around 2-2.5 inches, a present LLJ and deeper warm cl...
Flood — May 28, 2019
The hits just kept on rolling, with yet another pair of rounds of strong to severe storms, heavy rainfall, and flooding. Through much of the end of May, the synoptic setup across the region remained relatively unchanged, including this event. Upper level flow continued to be out of the SW, precipitable water values remained in excess of 1.5 inches, and a relatively stationary boundary remained ...
Flood — May 28, 2019
Heavy rain led to additional river flooding toward the end of May 2019. Some of the flooding on the Des Moines River at Eddyville was due to planned dam releases from Lake Red Rock combined with heavy rainfall.
Flood — Jun 28, 2019
River levels were high along the Des Moines River from dam releases upstream at Lake Red Rock. A heavy rainfall event across southeast Iowa caused the Des Moines River at Eddyville to briefly go into flood.
Flood — May 27, 2019
Heavy rain led to additional river flooding toward the end of May 2019. Some of the flooding on the Des Moines River at Eddyville was due to planned dam releases from Lake Red Rock combined with heavy rainfall.
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 Mahaska 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 Mahaska 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.