Enter any address in Wapello County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Wapello County. Recent events include flash flooding on June 24, 2021, when many locations received 3 to 6 inches of rain in a few hours, and on March 12, 2019, when heavy rain combined with snowmelt led to significant runoff and flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $17,784 and an average water depth of 9.5 feet. Properties in Zone X also show a notable number of claims, with a higher average payout of $27,472 and an average water depth of 10.2 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, and areas with unknown flood zone designations should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
94 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Wapello County, Iowa has recorded 119 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 37 flash floods and 82 river or area floods. The county has received 20 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 Storms And Flooding | Flood | Mar 12, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2013 |
| 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 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 | Jun 24, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 30, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flood | May 25, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flood | May 22, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flood | May 18, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 17, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 12, 2019 | 300.00K |
| Flood | Mar 12, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 24, 2021
Deep Gulf moisture fed into the state with the LLJ pushing a warm front north into southern Iowa through the late evening. Storms motion was generally parallel to the boundary, resulting in training of storms across southern Iowa and heavy rain. Many locations in southern Iowa received 3 to 6 inches of rain in a few hours with one location reporting over 7 inches of rain.
Flood — Apr 30, 2019
Additional rainfall towards the latter half of April caused the Des Moines River at Ottumwa to go into flood for a few days.
Flood — Apr 29, 2019
Additional rainfall towards the latter half of April caused the Des Moines River at Ottumwa to go into flood for a few days.
Flash 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 25, 2019
Continued heavy rain and high streamflows led to many rivers going back into flood in late May across central Iowa. Several crests occurred on the Des Moines River at Ottumwa. Many of these were due to planned releases from Lake Red Rock, with some of the water from 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 Wapello 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 Wapello 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.