Floodwaters Inundate Midwest, Where Flood Insurance is Rarely in Force

Floodwaters damaged hundreds of properties this week across parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota as the Midwest recovers from days of intense rainfall.

Three days of torrential downpours resulted in as much as 18 inches of rainfall in parts of the Midwest, creating historic floodwater levels in parts of Iowa and South Dakota.

The storm left at least two people dead – one storm fatality was confirmed in Clay County, Iowa, while a second death was reported in South Dakota.

Strong winds and hail caused downed power lines in the upper Midwest. As of Tuesday, approximately 150,000 Michigan residents were without power, according to

In Iowa, floodwaters from the Big Sioux River overtook several levees. A railroad bridge connecting North Sioux City, South Dakota, with Sioux City, Iowa collapsed on Sunday. Overflowing water damaged hundreds of homes in the Sioux City, Iowa area, officials said.

The Big Sioux River reached nearly nearly 45 feet in Sioux City, Iowa, on Monday, topping a previous high by 7 feet, according to the Associated Press.

“So much rain has fallen in a zone from southwestern Minnesota to northeastern Nebraska, including northwestern Iowa and southeastern South Dakota, that multiple rivers are on the rampage,” said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. “Several major rivers in the region, including the Big Sioux and West Fork of the Des Moines rivers, will be in major to record flood stage through early week.”

South Dakota Labor and Regulation Secretary Marcia Hultman encouraged residents to check the insurance department’s online information to help answer questions about flooding.

“If you’re unsure if flooding or sewer backup is covered under your homeowner policy, contact your insurance agent or the company you have coverage through,” said Hultman.

President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration for four Iowa counties, allowing for federal funding to affected individuals. Federal assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

In Minnesota, stormwaters nearly toppled the west side of the Rapidian Dam. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar toured the area by air on Tuesday, sharing photo of a house that sat teetering on the dam. Hours later, the house had collapsed.

Few people in Iowa and Minnesota have flood insurance policies in place. In Iowa, there are just over 9,000 flood insurance policies according to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In the last 12 months, the amount of policies in force in Iowa has shrunk by 5.50%. This is despite flood insurance payouts in the state exceeding $289 million since 2000.

In Minnesota, there are approximately 6,800 flood insurance policies. The amount of policies in force in Minnesota has shrunk by 2.92% over the last year, even as flood insurance payouts in the state have exceeded $66 million this century.

Residents in states further inland are often caught by surprise that their homeowners policies don’t cover most flood events, a said Matt Duffy, managing director and chief risk officer at Neptune Flood, a top provider of private flood insurance.

“Across the country there’s just an education gap when it comes to coverage for flood events,” said Duffy.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said over 40 counties throughout the state have been impacted by flooding, which has disrupted agriculture and damaged roads and property. Southern and Central Minnesota have been significantly impacted.

Walz said he may call a special session to address the flood damage if there is not enough relief money available.

“Nature doesn’t care whether you believe in climate change or not,” Walz told reporters Tuesday. “The insurance companies sure believe in it. The actuarials sure believe in it, and we do.”

Photo: Flooding from the Big Sioux River damages roads and buildings in North Sioux City, S.D., on Monday, June 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Josh Jurgens)