Enter any address in Montgomery County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
River flooding and flash flooding from heavy rainfall events are the dominant flood types in Montgomery County, IA. Recent events include widespread, historic flooding in March 2019, caused by rapid snowmelt and heavy rain, and flash flooding in May 2019 following intense nocturnal thunderstorms that dropped up to 8.75 inches of rain in 24 hours.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $2057 and an average water depth of 2.5 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have also seen claims, averaging $1478 with 1.0 foot of water. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, or those located near rivers and streams, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Montgomery County, Iowa has recorded 29 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 8 flash floods and 21 river or area floods. The county has received 20 federal disaster declarations, 6 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, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 20, 2024 |
| 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 3, 2014 |
| 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 Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 5, 2007 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 237.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 15, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 14, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 10, 2014 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 2, 2014 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Oct 1, 2014 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2013 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 24, 2019
Nocturnal thunderstorms moved through during the early morning hours of Friday, May 24, 2019. A tornado watch was in effect. A flash flood watch was also in effect. A squall line developed, with several possible embedded tornadic rotations. 24 hour rainfall amounts ranged from 2 to 8.75 inches, the highest amount in southwest Iowa. River flooding developed on local streams, including the West ...
Flood — Mar 13, 2019
A 971mb bomb cyclone moved out of the central Rockies on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 and helped to create widespread, moderate to major, and in many cases historic, flooding across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. From 4 to 15 inches of snow cover remained across the mid Missouri River valley, and the ground was frozen with existing frost depths of 15 to 23 inches. Warm temperatures allowed all...
Flood — May 27, 2016
Repeated thunderstorm events from the 24th through the 27th of May led to generally minor flooding along some creeks in southwest Iowa.
Flood — Jun 15, 2015
With ground already saturated from repeated heavy rainfall events in May and early June, another complex of thunderstorms producing very heavy rainfall moved across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa starting during the evening on the 10th and continued into the early morning hours on the 11th. This was followed with additional thunderstorms on the afternoon of the 11th over southeast Nebraska a...
Flood — Dec 14, 2015
A powerful and slow moving storm system spread heavy rainfall from the southern Plains into the central Plains over a two day period from 13th through the 14th of December. The closed upper level low pressure moved from the southern Plains on the 13th through the central Plains on the 14th and along and to the northwest of this track very heavy rainfall was observed. Rainfall records were set a...
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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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.