Iowa Disaster History
Iowa has experienced 31 presidentially-declared disasters since 1990. Iowa's lead hazards are those associated with severe weather, including heavy rains and flooding, tornadoes and high winds, ice storms, and blizzards and heavy snow. Iowa has also been affected by hazardous materials spills both at fixed facilities and those associated with transportation accidents.
Spring 2013
The most recent Presidential Disaster Declaration came May 6, 2013, as a result of a severe winter storm that hit northwest Iowa April 9-11, 2013.
The Year 2011
On April 9-10, severe storms, tornadoes and straight-line winds made their way across the state. Six counties received a Presidential Disaster Declaration as a result of these storms.
Beginning on May 25, sustained flooding in the Missouri River and its tributaries resulted in a Presidential Disaster Declaration affecting six counties. By the end of August, two more Presidential Disaster Declarations were made due to weather events in June and July, affecting eight additional counties.
Summer 2010
From June through August of 2010, severe storms, wind and flooding resulted in 63 counties receiving a Presidential Disaster Declaration. One of the most consequential events of the summer occurred on July 24, when the Lake Delhi (pronounced DEL-high) Dam in Delaware County was overtopped by the swollen Maquoketa River, causing the the earthen portion of the dam to erode and ultimately, the dam to fail.
Winter 2009-2010
The state experienced one of the snowiest winters on record beginning December 2009. By mid-February in Des Moines alone, a whopping 58 inches had already fallen for the season, according to the National Weather Service. Two disaster declarations were made during the winter season, one for severe winter storms and snow at the end of December, and one for severe winter storms in late January.
Spring/Summer 2008
On May 25, 2008, the town of Parkersburg and nearby communities were struck by tornadoes. A few days later, devastating floods began affecting much of the state. Eighty-five counties were included in a Presidential Disaster Declaration as a result of the tornadoes and flooding. Losses from these disasters are estimated to total between $8 - 10 billion, and more than 40,000 were affected.
The Year 2007
In 2007, Iowa had a record five disasters that received Presidential Emergency Declarations totaling more than $126 million in federal aid. It began with an ice storm in late February, followed by heavy snow a few days later in March, major spring flooding occurred in southwest Iowa in May, more flooding across the state occurred in August, and another ice storm in December finished off the year.
Summer 1993
Perhaps one of the most defining natural disaster incidents in Iowa history was flooding in 1993. Flooding resulted in 17 fatalities and more than $2 billion in damage. Over 10,000 people were evacuated from their homes and 21,000 homes were damaged, many destroyed. During the summer of 1993, it rained at some locations within the state each day for 130 consecutive days. Some areas of the state flooded more than five times. Agricultural yields dropped by 62 percent.
Iowa's Major Disaster Declarations
Click on each tab for additional information.
Year |
Date* |
Disaster Number/Incident Description |
|---|---|---|
2013 |
5/6 |
DR-4114, Severe Winter Storm |
2011 |
8/30 |
DR-4018, Severe Storms and Flooding |
2011 |
8/24 |
DR-4016, Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
2011 |
6/27 |
DR-1998, Flooding |
2011 |
5/5 |
DR-1977, Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Straight-Line Winds |
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*Date the disaster was declared, not necessarily the date it occurred. Click on the link for each disaster for additional information, including the date(s) of occurrence ("incident period"). |
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Year |
Date* |
Disaster Number/Incident Description |
|---|---|---|
2010 |
7/29 |
DR-1930, Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
2010 |
7/27 |
DR-1928, Severe Storms and Flooding |
2010 |
3/2 |
DR-1880, Severe Winter Storms |
2010 |
2/25 |
DR-1877, Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
2009 |
8/13 |
DR-1854, Severe Storm |
2008 |
5/27 |
DR-1763, Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
2008 |
1/4 |
DR-1737, Severe Winter Storm |
2007 |
9/14 |
DR-1727, Severe Storms and Flooding |
2007 |
5/25 |
DR-1705, Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
2007 |
3/14 |
DR-1688, Severe Winter Storms |
2004 |
5/25 |
DR-1518, Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
2002 |
6/19 |
DR-1420, Severe Storms and Flooding |
2001 |
5/2 |
DR-1367, Severe Storms and Flooding |
*Date the disaster was declared, not necessarily the date it occurred. Click on the link for each disaster for additional information, including the date(s) of occurrence ("incident period"). |
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Year |
Date* |
Disaster Number/Incident Description |
|---|---|---|
1999 |
7/22 |
DR-1282, Severe Storms and Flooding |
1999 |
5/21 |
DR-1277, Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
1998 |
7/2 |
DR-1230, Severe Weather, Tornadoes and Flooding |
1997 |
11/20 |
DR-1191, Severe Snow Storms |
1996 |
8/21 |
DR-1133, Flooding |
1996 |
6/24 |
DR-1121, Flooding |
1993 |
7/9 |
DR-996, Flooding, Severe Storm |
1993 |
4/26 |
DR-986, Flooding, Severe Storm |
1992 |
10/2 |
DR-965, Flooding, Severe Storm |
1991 |
12/26 |
DR-928, Ice Storm |
1991 |
7/12 |
DR-911, Flooding, Severe Storm |
*Date the disaster was declared, not necessarily the date it occurred. Click on the link for each disaster for additional information, including the date(s) of occurrence ("incident period"). |
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Year |
Date* |
Disaster Number/Incident Description |
|---|---|---|
1990 |
9/6 |
DR-879, Flooding, Severe Storm |
1990 |
5/26 |
DR-868, Flooding, Severe Storm |
1988 |
7/28 |
DR-814, Heavy Rain, High Winds, Tornadoes |
1987 |
7/17 |
DR-795, Storms, Flash Flooding |
1984 |
6/27 |
DR-715, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, Floods |
*Date the disaster was declared, not necessarily the date it occurred. Click on the link for each disaster for additional information, including the date(s) of occurrence ("incident period"). |
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Year |
Date* |
Disaster Number/Incident Description |
|---|---|---|
1979 |
7/1 |
DR-590, High Winds, Tornadoes |
1974 |
6/24 |
DR-443, Severe Storms, Flooding |
1973 |
5/23 |
DR-386, Severe Storms, Flooding |
1972 |
9/26 |
DR-354, Severe Storms, Flooding |
1972 |
8/18 |
DR-348, Severe Storms, Flooding |
*Date the disaster was declared, not necessarily the date it occurred. Click on the link for each disaster for additional information, including the date(s) of occurrence ("incident period"). |
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Year |
Date* |
Disaster Number/Incident Description |
|---|---|---|
1969 |
8/14 |
DR-269, Heavy Rains, Flooding |
1969 |
4/25 |
DR-259, Flooding |
1968 |
8/4 |
DR-248, Heavy Rains, Flooding |
1968 |
5/29 |
DR-240, Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
1965 |
4/22 |
DR-193, Flooding |
1962 |
9/5 |
DR-133, Flooding |
1961 |
3/31 |
DR-111, Flooding |
*Date the disaster was declared, not necessarily the date it occurred. Click on the link for each disaster for additional information, including the date(s) of occurrence ("incident period"). |
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Year |
Date* |
Disaster Number/Incident Description |
|---|---|---|
1958 |
7/5 |
DR-86, Flooding |
1954 |
6/23 |
DR-17, Flooding |
1953 |
6/11 |
DR-8, Flooding |
*Date the disaster was declared, not necessarily the date it occurred. Click on the link for each disaster for additional information, including the date(s) of occurrence ("incident period"). |
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Click here to view Governor's disaster emergency proclamations for the past five years.
