Iowa Flood Zones
Iowa faces widespread riverine flooding from the Mississippi, Missouri, Des Moines, Iowa, and Cedar rivers. The state experienced catastrophic flooding in 1993 and 2008, and agricultural land use practices contribute to rapid runoff into river systems.
12 communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, qualifying residents for flood insurance discounts of up to 30%.
Iowa Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 99 Iowa counties.
Inland Flood Risk
0 of 99 counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
0 of 70 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
Iowa has received 31 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2020s
1
2010s
7
2000s
2
1990s
7
1980s
1
1970s
4
1960s
6
1950s
3
Recent Declarations
Showing 8 most recent of 31 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Iowa properties have filed 14,742 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $344.5M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $23K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
435
2010s
4,022
2000s
4,521
1990s
4,506
1980s
854
1970s
404
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
5,990
Zone AE
4,560
Zone X
3,050
Zone AO
351
Zone AH
165
Zone AOB
2
Zone AHB
1
Zone V
1
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Iowa
12 Iowa communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), earning flood insurance premium discounts for residents in Special Flood Hazard Areas. CRS classes in Iowa range from 4 to 9, with discounts from 5% to 30%.
Clive
Class 4 - 30% discount
Cedar Falls
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 5 - 25% discount
Class 6 - 20% discount
Class 6 - 20% discount
Coralville
Class 7 - 15% discount
Urbandale
Class 7 - 15% discount
Class 7 - 15% discount
Windsor Heights
Class 8 - 10% discount
Charles City
Class 9 - 5% discount
Ankeny
Class 9 - 5% discount
Kalona
Class 9 - 5% discount
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Look Up Any Iowa Address
Enter a IA address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupIowa Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in Iowa.
Iowa Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my Iowa property is in a flood zone?
Enter your IA address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in Iowa?
If your Iowa property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given Iowa's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in Iowa?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Iowa are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my Iowa property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your Iowa property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. For properties in Iowa's AE and A zones, the LOMA process is relatively straightforward when the elevation data supports it. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
Do any Iowa communities offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes, 12 Iowa communities participate in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for exceeding minimum flood mitigation standards. Residents in participating communities can receive NFIP premium discounts of up to 30% in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Properties outside the SFHA also benefit: CRS classes 1 through 6 receive a 10% discount, and classes 7 through 9 receive a 5% discount on NFIP premiums. Check your city's page on FludZone to see if your community participates.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in Iowa.