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Audubon County, Iowa

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

Very Low overall risk
42nd of 99highest risk in Iowa
$11Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Audubon County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 61% of US counties. It ranks 42nd of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,022 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2022 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). No homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $127,000 on 14 claims here.

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

Top risks in Audubon County

$4.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtHigh97.8
$4M
Inland floodingVery Low19.8
$2M
Cold waveModerate68.1
$2M
TornadoLow59.7
$2M
Strong windModerate54.2
$590K
HailLow66.4
$458K
Heat waveVery Low36.6
$184K
Ice stormModerate62.0
$140K
Winter weatherLow34.2
$34K
LightningVery Low7.3
$22K
WildfireVery Low33.4
$17K
EarthquakeVery Low6.7
$6K
LandslideLow69.1
$5K
HurricaneVery Low15.1
$4K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood7
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Feb 23, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 5, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 29, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
May 27, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 25, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 30, 2007SnowEmergency
Show all 20
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 21, 1996Severe Storms, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 26, 1991Ice StormMajor disaster
May 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 26, 1972Severe Storms & 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 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 270 storm reports in Audubon County since 1959, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $26.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 13, 1976.

14tornadoes
117hail reports, largest 3 inches
97damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 13, 1976F2–0 / 0
May 4, 1959F2–0 / 0
Dec 15, 2021EF1Brayton0 / 0
Dec 15, 2021EF1Brayton0 / 0
May 15, 1968F1–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 12, 2010FloodGray$20M
Jul 10, 2002Thunderstorm WindGray$3M
Jun 24, 2013Thunderstorm WindSharon$300K
Apr 25, 2007FloodAudubon$250K
May 6, 2007FloodGray$250K
May 22, 2004Flash FloodCountywide$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 2025. 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 Audubon County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$126,927paid on 14 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $94,314 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 Audubon County

$121,900median home value (Iowa $208,000, US $332,700)
1950median year homes were built (Iowa 1972, US 1980)
84%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.9%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; 2,790 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
Carroll CountyLow14
Crawford CountyLow21
Cass CountyLow17
Shelby CountyVery Low18
Guthrie CountyVery Low15
Adair CountyLow15

Common questions about Audubon County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Audubon County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Audubon County, about $4.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Audubon County had?

Audubon County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in February 2022.

Is Audubon County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 42nd 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 Audubon County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Audubon County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Audubon County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 13, 1976. The weather service has also logged 117 hail reports and 19 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.