Enter any address in Woodbury County, Iowa to see its FEMA flood zone
Flood and flash flood events have been the most frequent types of severe weather in Woodbury County, IA over the past 30 years, with 44 flood events and 39 flash flood events recorded by NOAA. Recent heavy rainfall in June 2024, for example, led to widespread totals of 5 to 10 inches across the region, resulting in major to record river flooding and extensive overland flooding that devastated communities.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties designated as Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with 178 claims averaging $7,677 in payouts and an average water depth of 0.4 feet. Properties in Zone X also show a significant number of claims, with 14 claims averaging $5,736 and an average water depth of 3.1 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A or Zone X, as well as those in areas with unknown flood zone designations, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
23 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Woodbury County, Iowa has recorded 83 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 39 flash floods and 44 river or area floods. The county has received 18 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Mar 19, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 16, 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 6, 2018 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 14, 2014 |
| Flooding | Flood | May 25, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2009 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Feb 28, 2007 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 24, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 23, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 22, 2024 | 4.13M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 31, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 30, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 17, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 17, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 29, 2024
Very efficient thermal profiles with a deep warm cloud layer allowed thunderstorms to produce heavy rainfall during the mid-afternoon hours. Gauge reports from one to two inches of rain were common over the urban center of Sioux City, most of which fell within an hour.
Flash Flood — Jul 28, 2024
Storms developed along a weak surface boundary within a moisture-rich environment with weak mean-layer flow. Slow moving storms produced rainfall rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour, with amounts of 3.09 inches reported by a cooperative weather observer near Wakefield and personal automated gauges and radar estimates up to 4 inches over portions of the Sioux City metro area.
Flood — Jun 24, 2024
A multi-day significant heavy rainfall event from June 20-22 resulted in widespread rain totals between 5 and 10 inches across portions of southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota. As rainfall reached area streams and rivers, major to record flooding was observed, devastating several towns and communities. Extensive overland flooding also resulted in significant impacts a...
Flood — Jun 23, 2024
A multi-day significant heavy rainfall event from June 20-22 resulted in widespread rain totals between 5 and 10 inches across portions of southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota. As rainfall reached area streams and rivers, major to record flooding was observed, devastating several towns and communities. Extensive overland flooding also resulted in significant impacts a...
Flood — Jun 22, 2024
A multi-day significant heavy rainfall event from June 20-22 resulted in widespread rain totals between 5 and 10 inches across portions of southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota. As rainfall reached area streams and rivers, major to record flooding was observed, devastating several towns and communities. Extensive overland flooding also resulted in significant impacts 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 Woodbury 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 Woodbury 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.