How Much Is Flood Insurance in Iowa? Average Flood Insurance Cost and Coverage


Updated: October 3, 2024

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According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), one inch of flooding can cost you $25,000 in damages. Unfortunately, flood insurance is not covered by your homeowners or renters insurance.

Flood insurance premiums are affected by your location and certain property risks, such as foundation type and ground elevation. Most counties in Iowa have had a high number of flooding events over the years.

Consider checking your county to evaluate its flood risk. If you live in a moderate or high-risk flood zone, it’s best to purchase flood insurance to protect yourself financially from the cost of damages.

The average cost of flood insurance in Iowa is more expensive than the national average due to the flood risk in the state.

Taylor County has the cheapest flood insurance premiums in Iowa.

Shelby County has had the fewest flooding events in Iowa since 1996.

Average Cost of Flood Insurance in Iowa

On average, the annual cost of flood insurance in Iowa is $1,199. Flood risks and property risks contribute to the cost of flood insurance in the state.

Most flood-prone areas may have more expensive flood insurance than those that don’t regularly experience floods. Therefore, prices may vary based on the state and county you live in.

Average Cost of Flood Insurance by County in Iowa

Compared to the national average, flood insurance is more expensive in Iowa. This difference in cost may be attributed to the high number of flood-prone areas in Iowa.

Taylor County has the cheapest rate in the state at approximately $312 per year. On the other hand, Kossuth County has the most expensive rate at around $3,115 per year.

The table below shows the average cost of flood insurance in every county in Iowa.

Iowa Flood Insurance Cost Per County
ADAMS COUNTYAverage Cost$2,133
ALLAMAKEE COUNTYAverage Cost$860
APPANOOSE COUNTYAverage Cost$626
AUDUBON COUNTYAverage Cost$2,622
BENTON COUNTYAverage Cost$932
BLACK HAWK COUNTYAverage Cost$1,464
BOONE COUNTYAverage Cost$1,268
BREMER COUNTYAverage Cost$846
BUCHANAN COUNTYAverage Cost$901
BUTLER COUNTYAverage Cost$1,075
CALHOUN COUNTYAverage Cost$455
CARROLL COUNTYAverage Cost$750
CASS COUNTYAverage Cost$1,020
CEDAR COUNTYAverage Cost$1,330
CERRO GORDO COUNTYAverage Cost$817
CHEROKEE COUNTYAverage Cost$792
CHICKASAW COUNTYAverage Cost$2,002
CLAY COUNTYAverage Cost$1,296
CLAYTON COUNTYAverage Cost$1,009
CLINTON COUNTYAverage Cost$1,214
CRAWFORD COUNTYAverage Cost$2,441
DALLAS COUNTYAverage Cost$678
DECATUR COUNTYAverage Cost$745
DELAWARE COUNTYAverage Cost$1,276
DES MOINES COUNTYAverage Cost$1,055
DICKINSON COUNTYAverage Cost$840
DUBUQUE COUNTYAverage Cost$1,188
EMMET COUNTYAverage Cost$1,020
FAYETTE COUNTYAverage Cost$805
FLOYD COUNTYAverage Cost$1,006
FRANKLIN COUNTYAverage Cost$966
FREMONT COUNTYAverage Cost$1,207
GREENE COUNTYAverage Cost$1,228
GRUNDY COUNTYAverage Cost$496
GUTHRIE COUNTYAverage Cost$686
HAMILTON COUNTYAverage Cost$874
HANCOCK COUNTYAverage Cost$1,088
HARDIN COUNTYAverage Cost$1,113
HARRISON COUNTYAverage Cost$1,051
HOWARD COUNTYAverage Cost$646
HUMBOLDT COUNTYAverage Cost$1,109
IDA COUNTYAverage Cost$1,101
IOWA COUNTYAverage Cost$629
JACKSON COUNTYAverage Cost$1,057
JASPER COUNTYAverage Cost$773
JEFFERSON COUNTYAverage Cost$561
JOHNSON COUNTYAverage Cost$1,686
JONES COUNTYAverage Cost$1,172
KEOKUK COUNTYAverage Cost$359
KOSSUTH COUNTYAverage Cost$3,115
LEE COUNTYAverage Cost$1,367
LINN COUNTYAverage Cost$979
LOUISA COUNTYAverage Cost$935
LUCAS COUNTYAverage Cost$1,097
LYON COUNTYAverage Cost$843
MADISON COUNTYAverage Cost$1,074
MAHASKA COUNTYAverage Cost$661
MARION COUNTYAverage Cost$689
MARSHALL COUNTYAverage Cost$1,087
MILLS COUNTYAverage Cost$749
MITCHELL COUNTYAverage Cost$569
MONONA COUNTYAverage Cost$953
MONTGOMERY COUNTYAverage Cost$1,267
MUSCATINE COUNTYAverage Cost$1,142
O'BRIEN COUNTYAverage Cost$414
OSCEOLA COUNTYAverage Cost$385
PAGE COUNTYAverage Cost$560
PALO ALTO COUNTYAverage Cost$938
PLYMOUTH COUNTYAverage Cost$1,527
POCAHONTAS COUNTYAverage Cost$700
POLK COUNTYAverage Cost$1,248
POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTYAverage Cost$1,018
POWESHIEK COUNTYAverage Cost$1,302
RINGGOLD COUNTYAverage Cost$519
SAC COUNTYAverage Cost$1,295
SCOTT COUNTYAverage Cost$1,796
SHELBY COUNTYAverage Cost$1,559
SIOUX COUNTYAverage Cost$1,441
STORY COUNTYAverage Cost$1,442
TAMA COUNTYAverage Cost$785
TAYLOR COUNTYAverage Cost$312
UNION COUNTYAverage Cost$844
VAN BUREN COUNTYAverage Cost$1,337
WAPELLO COUNTYAverage Cost$1,106
WARREN COUNTYAverage Cost$615
WASHINGTON COUNTYAverage Cost$1,102
WEBSTER COUNTYAverage Cost$983
WINNEBAGO COUNTYAverage Cost$572
WINNESHIEK COUNTYAverage Cost$820
WOODBURY COUNTYAverage Cost$1,384
WORTH COUNTYAverage Cost$621
WRIGHT COUNTYAverage Cost$1,674

Companies That Offer Flood Insurance in Iowa

Flood insurance is available from NFIP and private companies. With private companies, you can get a base policy or an excess policy. Private companies are great for non-NFIP communities or when NFIP coverage is not enough.

An excess policy serves as additional coverage on top of your base policy, which is similar to NFIP coverage.

Private Flood Insurance Providers in IA and Their Contact Numbers
Company
Contact

Neptune Flood

727-202-4815

Aon Private Flood

888-281-0684

Hiscox - FloodPlus

866-283-7545

FloodSimple Insurance Services

844-803-8788

Chubb

866-324-8222

NFIP has partnered with several insurance companies to provide more affordable flood insurance policies. The partnership between these companies and NFIP helps make flood insurance more accessible. NFIP’s partner companies in Iowa are listed in the table below.

NFIP-Participating Flood Insurance Providers in State and Their Contact Numbers
Company
Contact

Allstate Insurance Company

(800) 527-2634

American Family Mutual Ins. Co

(800) 692-6326

American Nat. Prop. & Casualty

(417) 887-4990

American Strategic Ins. Corp.

(866) 274-8765

Assurant

(800) 423-4403

Auto Owners Insurance Co.

Refer to the Agent locator

Farmers Insurance Group

(866) 865-2965

Hartford Fire Insurance Co.

(860) 547-7440

How to Purchase Flood Insurance and Its Coverage Requirements

There are no specific requirements for buying flood insurance, making the process simple. You can get a policy by contacting your home insurance agent, the NFIP Hotline (877-336-2627) or other providers.

NFIP has a 30-day waiting period and private companies can have a 10-day waiting period. It’s best to contact your provider for details and purchase a flood insurance policy as soon as possible.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover in Iowa?

Flood insurance protects the structure of your home and your personal property. These coverages are important because even an inch of water can cost you $25,000 in damages.

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Flood insurance covers “floods” that are caused by a natural calamity or the weather. It doesn’t refer to the water damage caused by broken pipes or appliances.

Swimming pools, decks, patios, landscaping, cash and documents, items in your basement and vehicles are not covered by flood insurance.

Flood Insurance Building Coverage

Repairs and replacement of the physical structure of your home are paid for by the building coverage aspect of flood insurance if you have a covered event. An NFIP policy can cover your structure for up to $250,000.

The following are physical structures that are usually covered by your flood insurance:

  • Foundation walls
  • Electrical systems
  • Plumbing systems
  • Furnaces, central heating and air conditioning
  • Built-in appliances
  • Permanent carpets
  • Built-in furniture

Flood Insurance Contents Coverage

Contents coverage pays for the repair or replacement of your personal belongings as long as they were lost through a covered peril. If you have flood insurance from NFIP, your contents coverage can reach up to $100,000.

These items are often included in your flood insurance policy through contents coverage:

  • Clothing
  • Furniture
  • Electronic equipment
  • Washers and dryers
  • Artwork

Factors That Affect Flood Insurance Costs in Iowa

Before October 2021, the sole factor that determined the cost of flood insurance was your general location.

The FEMA website can show you the historical flood risk of Iowa. Based on FEMA’s data, Polk County has the most flooding events (186), and flood insurance costs $1,248 per year on average in this area. Shelby County has the fewest events (eight) and has flood insurance premiums of around $1,559 per year.

While Polk County has the most flooding events, it’s not the most expensive location in Iowa due to its size allowing the flood to be spread across a wider area.

Risk Rating 2.0

Risk Rating 2.0 is a system that sets affordable premiums for flood insurance. Instead of basing your premiums on the flood map, it considers the following individual property risks:

  • Foundation type
  • Dwelling structure
  • Elevation
  • Replacement and repair costs
  • Frequency of flooding
  • Proximity to bodies of water

Your location can still be a primary influence on the cost of your flood insurance in Iowa. Below are factors that affect your premium.

    building icon

    Flood Risk

    Under Risk Rating 2.0, flood risk is now an individual factor. You and your neighbors can have different flood risks. Therefore, your premiums will vary. Nevertheless, premiums are more expensive in moderate-risk or high-risk flood zones vs. low-risk flood zones.

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    Coverage Type

    Your coverage amount affects the cost of your premium. For example, it’s more expensive to get comprehensive coverage than limited coverage. Different states and counties have different coverages as well.

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    Deductible

    It’s cheaper to get a policy with a higher deductible, but you’ll pay more if you file a claim. You can have a deductible of $1,000 up to $10,000.

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    Age of Structure

    It’s more expensive to cover older structures because of their susceptibility to damage.

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    Structure Design

    Since Risk Rating 2.0 considers individual risk factors, it takes into account the design and materials of your building. These can affect the cost of your flood insurance.

Do You Need Flood Insurance in Iowa?

Every property can be damaged by flooding, so flood insurance can be a wise investment. FEMA recommends it as additional protection for those who live in low-risk or moderate-risk flood zones. Moreover, it’s required by government-backed mortgages and lenders for those who live in high-risk flood zones.

Homeowners insurance and renters insurance don’t include flood coverage. Federal disaster assistance only gives each household a maximum of $5,000 in loans and grants. Flood insurance covers a significantly larger amount without a presidential disaster declaration. On top of that, it can give you peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions About Iowa Flood Insurance

It’s important to find the best flood insurance in Iowa that’s within your budget. To help you with your research, MoneyGeek answered commonly asked questions about flood insurance costs in Iowa.

What is the average cost of flood insurance in Iowa?
Which companies offer flood insurance in Iowa?
What kind of damage does flood insurance cover?
What affects flood insurance rates in Iowa?

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


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