Des Moines County, IA Environment & Hazard Risk

• HailRelatively Moderate$1.85M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.0 events a year
• Strong windRelatively High$1.67M/yr expected annual loss, about 5.5 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$1.28M/yr expected annual loss, about 8.6 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$1.94M/yr expected annual loss, about 9.0 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$7,907/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.59M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$194K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• LightningRelatively Moderate$454K/yr expected annual loss, about 45 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$93.37K/yr expected annual loss, about 13 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$408K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 770 years
• WildfireVery Low$32.45K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,068 years
• Cold waveRelatively Low$598K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.8 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$4,040/yr expected annual loss, about once every 103 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

129 of 21,076 (0.6%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

499

Insured in high-risk zones

66 (13%)

Flood claims since 1978

352

Claims paid since 1978

$9.37M

• Thunderstorm Wind205
• Hail109
• Flood65
• Winter Storm57
• Winter Weather48
• Flash Flood33
• Drought17
• Heavy Snow13
• Ice Storm10
• Dense Fog9

• Drought08/01/2003

  Des Moines

  $14.88M damage

  What happened

  Dry conditions that began in September 2002 and continued through 2003, manifested into a moderate to severe drought at the start of August 2003 which is a crucial time for soybean development and corn in filling out the ears with large kernels. The last significant widespread rainfall in Eastern Iowa occurred on July 20th with general rainfalls of around an inch. According to data from the Iowa State Climatologist, August 2003 was the driest on record with an statewide average of only 0.96 inches of rainfall, which was 3.23 inches below the normal for August. Hot and humid conditions arrived for the second half of August placing extreme stress on crops that were already suffering from a lack of rainfall. Earlier predictions of a near record or record harvest fell by the wayside by late August. Estimates of yield reduction were 10% for the corn crop, or about $85.8 million. Soybean loses were estimated at 30%, or about $226.7 million.

• Hail2.75" hail05/09/2003

  Burlington, Des Moines County

  $10M damage

  What happened

  The first of 3 severe weather events occurred across Northeast Missouri, Eastern Iowa, and the Northern third of Illinois. Supercell thunderstorms developed in the late afternoon and evening north of a warm front that was associated with a powerful spring storm system. Favorable moisture and shear profiles allowed the storms to produce large hail and heavy rain. In Fort Madison, Iowa it was reported to be the most hail seen since 1993 with a car dealership reporting damage to about 400 cars on its lot along with numerous cars and buildings. In the Burlington, Iowa area, the most severe damage from the hail was on the south side of the city. Three schools and a golf course were heavily damaged prompting officials to cancel school for students in those buildings until the following Monday.

• Drought07/01/2005

  Des Moines

  $7.08M damage

  What happened

  The drought that began back in June 2005 continued through July and into August 2005 and spread into Eastern Iowa and Northeast Missouri. The drought became severe to extreme across Northwest and West Central Illinois while it was only severe across Eastern Iowa and Northeast Missouri. The drought combined with high heat during the second half of the month decimated the corn crop. At one point during the month of July, the dryness for the calendar year across parts of the area equalled or exceeded the dry conditions during the drought of 1988. By late June the governor of Illinois had activated the Drought Response Task Force in response to severe drought conditions. By late July much of the state was declared an agricultural disaster area by the USDA.Crop loss estimates varied across the entire area. Across Illinois, the worst losses were along the Illinois River Valley with an estimated 40% yield reduction that decreased to around 25-30% along the Mississippi River Valley. In Iowa, loses rapidly decreased the further west one went from the Mississippi River Valley and were near or just slightly below normal upon reaching an Independence to Oskaloosa Iowa line.

• Winter Storm02/21/2009

  Des Moines

  4 injured

  What happened

  According to the Hawk Eye newspaper in Burlington, a 5-car pileup occurred on snowy U.S. Highway 61 north of Burlington that closed the highway for 90 minutes. The accident caused 4 indirect injuries. A trained spotter measured a total of 5 inches of snow at Burlington along with wind gusts to near 40 mph.

• Flash Flood05/13/2010

  Pleasantgrove, Des Moines County

  $3.95M damage

  What happened

  Heavy rains resulted in the flash flooding of parts of Des Moines County during the early morning hours of May 12. The Burlington area and locations north were some of the hardest hit areas. The flood waters were 10 to 12 inches deep south of Agency Road. In addition, the intersection of Highway 61 and Roosevelt Avenue was flooded with some vehicles stalled out in the flood waters. Several homes and businesses had water in basements with some flooded with over 7 feet of water. Parts of Tama Road and Plank Road were washed out. In other areas, landslides spilled onto some streets. Several businesses along Jefferson Street also sustained flood damage and loss of property.

• Flood06/01/2008

  Huron, Des Moines County

  $3.8M damage

  What happened

  The record crest on the Mississippi River at Burlington occurred on June 17, 2008 at 25.73 feet. Flood stage is 15 feet.

• Thunderstorm Wind56 kt wind07/03/2026

  Dodgeville, Des Moines County

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/17/2026

  Burlington Arpt, Des Moines County

• Thunderstorm Wind53 kt wind06/17/2026

  Beaverdale, Des Moines County

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind06/17/2026

  Burlington Arpt, Des Moines County

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind06/17/2026

  Lenox Park, Des Moines County

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind06/17/2026

  Mediapolis, Des Moines County

• Thunderstorm Wind54 kt wind06/17/2026

  Mediapolis Sharar Ar, Des Moines County

• Thunderstorm Wind70 kt wind06/17/2026

  Mediapolis, Des Moines County

• Burlington Municipal WaterworksServes 26,015 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Rathbun Reg Wtr Assn (Burlington)Serves 8,375 · Purchased surface water · PrivateNo health violations
• West Burlington Muni. Water SupplyServes 3,555 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Mediapolis Water SupplyServes 1,688 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Danville Water SupplyServes 923 · Purchased surface water · Local government1 health violation+2 monitoring or reporting
• Timberline Estates, Ltd.Serves 712 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Middletown Water SupplyServes 336 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Green Acres Mobile Home ParkServes 190 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations