Enter any address in Shelby County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
1 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Shelby County, Iowa has recorded 5 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 4 flash floods and 1 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 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Tornado | Apr 26, 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 26, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 19, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2009 |
| 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 | Jun 30, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2014 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 22, 2004 | — |
| Flood | Feb 18, 1997 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 21, 1996 | — |
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2014
An unseasonably strong mid and upper level jet combined with high amounts of low level moisture and instability to create a volatile atmosphere across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa late in the night and into Monday morning. Thunderstorms developed on the nose of the low-level jet and quickly became severe. Isolated to scattered supercells moved across northeast Nebraska and western Iowa thr...
Flood — Feb 18, 1997
Mild temperatures melted snowcover in a short period allowing for a sudden runoff into streams and rivers which were still intact with thicker than normal ice. The runoff into the streams and rivers was sufficient to break up the ice. Ice jams formed at many locations causing flooding. The more significant flooding occurred along the Boyer river and was aggravated by ice jams at Woodbine dow...
Flash Flood — Jun 21, 1996
Heavy rains of 2 to 5 inches fell over much of northern Shelby County.
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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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.