Enter any address in Marion County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the primary flood hazard in Marion County, IA. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA data recorded 100 flood events and 37 flash flood events. Recent examples include heavy rainfall and flash flooding on July 31, 2024, and July 2, 2024, which brought between 3-6 inches of rain to some areas.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, areas with higher flood risk, have experienced the most claims. These claims averaged $23,381 and reported an average water depth of 21.1 feet. Properties in Zone X, considered moderate to low risk, had fewer claims averaging $7,353 with an average water depth of -1.2 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in any location prone to heavy rainfall and flash flooding, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
118 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Marion County, Iowa has recorded 137 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 37 flash floods and 100 river or area floods. The county has received 19 federal disaster declarations, 9 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 Storm And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jul 19, 2018 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 20, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Apr 17, 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 Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Feb 23, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jul 31, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 15, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Oct 9, 2018 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Oct 9, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 6, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2016 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Jul 29, 2015 | 150.00K |
| Flood | Jul 29, 2015 | 500.00K |
Flood — Jul 31, 2024
Storms lined up across central Iowa on the 850 mb moisture gradient early in the morning of July 31, producing up to quarter sized hail and gusts over 50 mph in isolated downbursts. Storms shifted into southeast Iowa through the morning and remained strong, producing hail and strong winds. As storms shifted southeast the orientation shifted to allow for training storms will heavy rain of 3-6 in...
Flash Flood — Jul 31, 2024
Storms lined up across central Iowa on the 850 mb moisture gradient early in the morning of July 31, producing up to quarter sized hail and gusts over 50 mph in isolated downbursts. Storms shifted into southeast Iowa through the morning and remained strong, producing hail and strong winds. As storms shifted southeast the orientation shifted to allow for training storms will heavy rain of 3-6 in...
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 — Mar 15, 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 — Oct 9, 2018
Tornadoes made an October appearance along with other strong storms and heavy rainfall as a number of conditions came together. A frontal boundary stalled out across Iowa, situated from southwest to northeast, roughly cutting the state in half. Dew points were on the high side given the time of the year, in the upper 60s to low 70s, yielding low lifted condensation levels. In addition, low leve...
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 Marion 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 Marion 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.