Des Moines, Iowa Flood Zones
Des Moines faces major flood risk from the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, which converge in the city. The 1993 and 2008 floods caused extensive damage and highlighted the vulnerability of the water treatment plant.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Polk County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $60.6M
Hurricane Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $14K
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Polk County
Polk County has been included in 9 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 1 earlier declaration since 1965.
These declarations affected communities across Polk County, including Des Moines.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Polk County
Properties in Polk County have filed 1,524 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $36.6M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $24K.
Highest-Claim Years
1993
454 claims - $8.5M
1990
200 claims - $1.5M
2010
167 claims - $3.5M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
649
Zone AE
427
Zone X
364
Zone AO
43
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Des Moines
Properties in Des Moines, IA are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Des Moines
Des Moines faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Des Moines are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $60.6M.
Riverine flood risk in Des Moines is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Des Moines address.
Flood Insurance Discount: Des Moines
Des Moines participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 5
SFHA Premium Discount
25% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Des Moines's Class 5 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 25% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Check Your Des Moines Address
Enter any Des Moines, IA address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupDes Moines, IA Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Des Moines, IA?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Des Moines are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Des Moines?
If your Des Moines property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) 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 federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Des Moines?
Enter your Des Moines address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Des Moines offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Des Moines participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 5 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 25% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Des Moines experienced major flooding events?
Polk County, where Des Moines is located, has been part of 9 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in 2019. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Des Moines?
Polk County has recorded 1,524 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $36.6M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1993, with 454 claims and $8.5M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Des Moines.
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