Flood insurance • Des Moines, Iowa • 2026
Flood Insurance in Des Moines, IA: River Levees, Creek Flooding, and Quotes
Des Moines sits where the Raccoon River meets the Des Moines River, and both have broken through levees. In July 1993, the Raccoon River overtopped the Water Works levee and more than 250,000 residents lost running water, and on June 14, 2008, the Des Moines River breached the Birdland levee north of downtown, flooding about 250 homes and businesses.
Standard homeowners and renters policies exclude flood, so a separate flood policy is the only way to cover damage from rising water.
Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency based in Tucson that serves Des Moines homeowners and renters by phone and online. We do not have an office in Des Moines, and we compare National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and private flood options from the insurers we are appointed with for your exact address.
Get Des Moines flood insurance quotes
Tell us your Des Moines address, whether you own or rent, your flood zone if you know it, and the coverage you want, and a licensed agent will follow up with NFIP and private flood options available to us. Submitting the form does not bind coverage.
If the form does not load, call 888-387-3687, Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 5:00 Arizona time, or email info@blakeinsurancegroup.com.
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Flood risk in Des Moines: what drives it
Many Des Moines neighborhoods near the rivers depend on levees, and others sit along smaller creeks. Three things drive most flood risk.
Levees still being upgraded
A 2010 Army Corps study found downtown levees did not meet FEMA accreditation standards, and the city is improving them in phases, including an 8-mile levee in southeast Des Moines along the Des Moines River and Fourmile Creek.
Creek flash flooding
In 2018, 5 to 10 inches of rain sent Fourmile Creek to a record, and the city later spent about $10.5 million to buy 78 flood-damaged homes, most along the creek in northeast Des Moines.
Old combined sewers
In older parts of the city, storm water and sewage shared the same pipes and backed up into buildings and streets; the city is separating them. In July 2025, a record 2.77 inches of rain in one day began a wet stretch that flooded basements.
Des Moines flood zones and maps
Higher-risk areas include Birdland and Union Park north of downtown, the Gray’s Lake and Raccoon River area south of downtown, the Fourmile Creek corridor in northeast Des Moines, and the southeast Des Moines levee area. Levee-protected land can still flood if a levee fails, so check your address.
FEMA flood maps label higher-risk areas as Special Flood Hazard Areas, such as Zones A and AE, and lower-risk areas as Zones X, B, or C. If your building is in a high-risk zone and you have a federally backed mortgage, your lender will require flood insurance. Outside those zones, coverage is optional, but flood damage is still excluded from standard homeowners and renters policies.
You can look up an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Maps show estimated risk, not a guarantee, and do not capture every street or wash that floods during a heavy storm.
Coverage priorities for Des Moines homeowners and renters
| Your situation | Coverage to review | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Birdland homeowner | Building and contents flood | The Birdland levee failed in both 1993 and 2008 |
| Homeowner near Fourmile Creek | Building and contents flood | The creek set a record in 2018 |
| Homeowner with a basement | Flood policy plus a water backup endorsement | Older sewers can back up in heavy rain |
| Renter in a ground-floor unit | Contents-only flood coverage | Your landlord’s policy does not cover your belongings |
Examples only, not recommendations. Coverage availability and terms vary by insurer.
Iowa flood facts every Des Moines property owner should know
- Flood is excluded from homeowners and renters policies. Rising water from the Cedar, Des Moines, or Raccoon River, a creek, or an overloaded sewer, or heavy rain that pools around a building, is flood damage. It needs a separate flood policy.
- Sewer backup is a separate gap. Water backing up through floor drains or toilets is usually covered only by a water backup endorsement on your homeowners policy. A flood policy covers backup only when it is caused directly by a flood.
- Basements have limited flood coverage. NFIP policies cover only certain items below ground level, such as furnaces, water heaters, and washers and dryers, not finished walls, flooring, or most belongings. Some private policies offer more.
- Iowa sellers must disclose flood plain location. Iowa’s required seller disclosure statement asks whether the seller knows the property is in a flood plain, and about any known flooding, drainage, or grading problems. It does not ask about flood insurance or past claims, so ask directly and check the flood map yourself.
- Few Iowans carry flood insurance. Iowa had just over 9,000 NFIP policies in mid-2024, and the Iowa DNR says fewer than 5% of property owners in the hardest-hit areas of the June 2024 floods had flood coverage.
- Lenders require flood insurance in high-risk zones. If your building is in a Special Flood Hazard Area and your mortgage is federally backed, flood insurance is required. Elsewhere it is optional.
- State floodplain help. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources coordinates the NFIP in the state, and the Iowa Flood Center’s free Iowa Flood Information System shows flood maps, river levels, and alerts for Iowa streams.
NFIP vs. private flood insurance: what to compare
Most flood policies come from the National Flood Insurance Program, run by FEMA, or from a private flood insurer. Line up each quote on the same terms before comparing price.
| Coverage | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Building coverage | Same limit. The NFIP pays up to $250,000 for a home's structure. Private flood insurers may offer higher limits. |
| Contents coverage | Same limit. The NFIP pays up to $100,000 for belongings, and renters can buy contents-only coverage. |
| Deductibles | Same deductibles. Building and contents deductibles are often separate. |
| Loss settlement | Whether the building is paid at replacement cost or actual cash value, and how contents are paid |
| Living expenses | The NFIP does not pay for a hotel or other extra living costs. Some private policies do. |
| Basements | The NFIP limits what it covers below ground level. Check what each policy pays for in a basement. |
| Waiting period | NFIP policies usually take effect after 30 days, with some exceptions, such as a loan closing. Private waiting periods vary. |
Des Moines areas and ZIP codes we quote
We quote flood insurance across Des Moines, including Birdland, Union Park, Highland Park, Oak Park, the East Village, Downtown, Capitol East, Gray’s Lake, South Park, Pioneer Park, Southwestern Hills, northeast Des Moines along Fourmile Creek, Beaverdale, Drake, Sherman Hill, Woodland Heights, River Bend, and Merle Hay.
- 50309
- 50310
- 50311
- 50312
- 50313
- 50314
- 50315
- 50316
- 50317
- 50320
- 50321
- 50322
- 50327
Flood insurance is priced by the exact address, including its flood risk, the building's elevation and foundation, its replacement cost, and the coverage and deductibles you choose. Have your address and, if you have one, your elevation certificate ready.
Ways to lower your Des Moines flood premium
- Compare NFIP and private quotes. Since FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP prices reflect each property's own risk, and a private quote can come in higher or lower for the same home.
- Choose a higher deductible if you can afford it after a loss.
- Get an elevation certificate. It can help, especially for buildings in high-risk zones.
- Reduce the damage a flood can do. Raising utilities, adding flood openings, or elevating the building can lower the price over time.
- Ask about community discounts. Communities in FEMA's Community Rating System can earn NFIP discounts for their residents.
Discounts and pricing factors vary by insurer and program.
Closing on a home? If your lender requires flood insurance, tell us your closing date. NFIP policies tied to a loan closing can start without the usual 30-day wait. Call 888-387-3687.
Des Moines flood insurance FAQs
Do I need flood insurance in Des Moines?
If your building is in a high-risk flood zone and you have a federally backed mortgage, your lender will require it. Elsewhere it is optional, but flood damage is excluded from homeowners and renters policies.
What happened to Des Moines’ water in 1993?
The Raccoon River overtopped the Water Works levee and the plant shut down. Residents went more than a week without running water and nearly three weeks before it was safe to drink.
Has the Birdland levee failed?
Yes. It failed in 1993, and on June 14, 2008, the Des Moines River breached it again, flooding about 250 homes and businesses.
Does flood insurance cover sewer backup?
Only when a flood directly causes the backup. Otherwise you need a water backup endorsement on your homeowners or renters policy.
How long does a flood policy take to start?
NFIP policies usually take effect after 30 days, with exceptions such as a policy tied to a loan closing. Private waiting periods vary.
Nearby areas and related guides
Important information
Independent agency. Blake Insurance Group LLC is an independent insurance agency. Licensed insurance producer NPN 16944666. Licensed states: AZ, AL, TX, CA, NY, OH, FL, NC, VA, GA, OK, NM, IA, KS, MI, NE, SC, SD, WV, IL, NJ, PA, TN, and WA. Which insurance companies we can quote depends on our current appointments, the product, and your state.
Availability. Coverage, prices, discounts, waiting periods, and eligibility vary by insurer, program, and property, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls. This page is general information, not legal advice. Flood zone information is general; check the official map for your address.
Service area. Blake Insurance Group is based in Tucson and serves Des Moines clients by phone and online. We do not claim a physical office in Des Moines.
Your next step
Request a quote, and a licensed agent will compare NFIP and private flood options available to us for your Des Moines address.
