5 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Wayne County, Iowa. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flooding in Wayne County is dominated by standard river and stream flooding alongside recurring flash flood events from summer thunderstorms. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database has recorded 61 flood events and 27 flash flood events.
Heavy rainfall and stationary weather boundaries frequently trigger rapid inundation across the area. For example, a flash flood occurred on May 28, 2019, driven by repeated rounds of severe storms, heavy rainfall, and a stationary boundary with high precipitable water values. Another significant flash flood struck on September 28, 2019, following a moderate to heavy rainfall event of two to three inches that primed the area for flooding as a stationary front resided to the south in Missouri. Additional flash flooding occurred on June 24 and June 25, 2015, when slow-moving boundaries and training heavy rain producers affected the region.
Residents living near rivers and streams, as well as property owners in low-lying areas prone to rapid surface runoff, should pay the closest attention to flood risks in Wayne County.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
78 NOAA storm reports from Wayne County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Iowa flood stories →
15 federal disaster declarations since 1973, 5 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Mar 12, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Jun 20, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Jun 3, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Apr 17, 2013 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Jun 1, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | May 25, 2008 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Dec 10, 2007 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Aug 17, 2007 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
88 since 1996: 27 flash floods and 61 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 28, 2019 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 28, 2019 | $10,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2015 | $200,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2015 | $10,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 25, 2015 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 24, 2015 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2015 | $100,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 23, 2014 | $25,000 |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Sep 28, 2019. After a moderate to heavy rainfall event providing 2 to 3 inches just prior to this, the pump was primed so to speak for flooding potential. A generally stationary front resided south of the area into Missouri, but upper level and mid level flow strongly suggested storms would track north of the surface boundary and across portions of southern and central Iowa. The initial wave of rain was initiated by a mid-upper…
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 over the area. In ad…
Flash Flood · Jul 29, 2015. A boundary was pushing through the state with ongoing convection through central Iowa through the day. As the boundary neared the area, the convection intensified and impacted central and southern Iowa in the evening to early morning hours. Two thunderstorm complexes moved through portions of central and southern Iowa with very heavy rainfall causing flash flooding. The severe thunderstorm complexes produced some…
Flash Flood · Jul 27, 2015. Another morning and early afternoon MCS rolled through Iowa, producing heavy rainfall, a couple of wind damage reports, and a handfull of flash flood reports. Flash flooding reports were restricted to southern Iowa, while the heavy rain ranged from as far north and west as Webster County and down to Appanoose. Heavy rainfall totals were generally around 2 inches, but included a 4 inch report from Prairie City in…
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Wayne County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.