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Allamakee County, Iowa

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
44th of 99highest risk in Iowa
$10Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Allamakee County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 44th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $744 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (flooding). Only 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $101,000 on 17 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Allamakee County

$5.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow50.5
$6M
Cold waveLow65.2
$2M
TornadoLow55.7
$1M
HailModerate79.7
$753K
Strong windLow43.4
$397K
Heat waveLow43.4
$236K
DroughtLow50.4
$131K
LandslideModerate92.0
$66K
LightningVery Low19.1
$57K
Ice stormLow27.1
$23K
Winter weatherVery Low20.2
$15K
EarthquakeVery Low12.0
$11K
WildfireVery Low16.7
$5K
HurricaneVery Low11.6
$2K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Allamakee County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood12
Severe Storm7
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 25, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 31, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 29, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 24, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 27, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 20
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 19, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 14, 1969Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 25, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 22, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

Iowa also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 308 storm reports in Allamakee County since 1958, with 1 death and 5 injuries and about $23.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 29, 1987.

12tornadoes
96hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
121damaging thunderstorm winds
65floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 29, 1987F2–0 / 0
Jun 17, 2026EF2Elon0 / 0
May 4, 1964F2–0 / 0
Jul 19, 1994F1Churchtown0 / 0
Aug 5, 2024EF1Hanover0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 22, 2013Flash FloodLansing$6M
Jun 7, 2008Flash FloodQuandahl$4M
Jul 29, 1987Tornado–$3M
Jun 7, 2008FloodQuandahl$2M
Jun 8, 2008FloodHanover$1M
Jun 8, 2008Flash FloodQuandahl$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 17, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Allamakee County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (29 policies)
7.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$101,378paid on 17 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $33,693 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Allamakee County

$172,300median home value (Iowa $208,000, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Iowa 1972, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.8%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 7,761 housing units.

Compare in Iowa

All 99 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Polk CountyModerateInland flooding
Linn CountyModerateInland flooding
Scott CountyModerateInland flooding
Johnson CountyModerateTornado
Black Hawk CountyLowInland flooding
Woodbury CountyModerateInland flooding
Dallas CountyLowInland flooding
Dubuque CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Vernon County, WILow21
Winneshiek CountyVery Low19
Fayette CountyLow20
Houston County, MNVery Low19
Clayton CountyVery Low25
Crawford County, WILow20

Common questions about Allamakee County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Allamakee County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Allamakee County, about $5.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Allamakee County had?

Allamakee County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in August 2023.

Is Allamakee County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 44th highest of 99 in Iowa. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Allamakee County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Allamakee County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Allamakee County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Allamakee County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 29, 1987. The weather service has also logged 96 hail reports and 65 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.