Characterizing the 2019 Midwest Flood: A Hydrologic and Socio-Economic Perspective

During the spring of 2019, severe flooding across the U.S. Midwest caused widespread damage to communities in the Missouri and Mississippi River Basins. While it is known that flood magnitude and economic damages are often related, little work exists to examine these factors simultaneously. In this study, we analyze both the hydrologic and socio-economic characteristics of the 2019 Midwest flood to gain a comprehensive understanding of impacts to individuals, households, and communities. We examine flood magnitude, duration, and probability of occurrence in tandem with claim and grant applications from federal disaster recovery programs, such as the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Individual and Households Program (IHP). Overall, we find that many areas, particularly in Nebraska and Iowa, experienced moderate or major flooding due to historic discharge magnitudes. In these states, NFIP claims totaled over $31 million and IHP applications exceeded $42 million in reported damages. In most cases, counties which reported a high density of insurance claims or grant applications overlapped with regions with significant flooding. We also identify the economic advantages to NFIP policyholders for flood recovery in terms of aid eligibility and financial aid amounts. This work seeks to demonstrate the connection between flood severity and socio-economic demographics to identify populations most vulnerable to flood impacts in the Midwest.