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Boone County, Iowa

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

Very Low overall risk
69th of 99highest risk in Iowa
$17Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Boone County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 72% of US counties. It ranks 69th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $618 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2020 (severe storms). Only 25 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $448,000 on 18 claims here.

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

Top risks in Boone 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.
$4.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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 floodingVery Low28.8
$6M
DroughtHigh95.0
$5M
TornadoLow57.2
$3M
Cold waveLow42.1
$1M
HailLow66.0
$833K
Strong windLow37.4
$670K
Winter weatherLow60.5
$162K
Ice stormLow37.5
$83K
LightningVery Low13.2
$82K
EarthquakeVery Low16.6
$35K
Heat waveVery Low7.6
$21K
WildfireVery Low15.9
$10K
LandslideVery Low53.2
$3K
HurricaneVery Low9.3
$3K

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 very low 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 Boone County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 17, 2020Severe StormsMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 29, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 27, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Aug 21, 1996Severe Storms, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 26, 1991Ice StormMajor disaster
May 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 22, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 582 storm reports in Boone County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $59.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on June 13, 1976.

53tornadoes
194hail reports, largest 3 inches
214damaging thunderstorm winds
46floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 13, 1976F5–9 / 0
Jun 13, 1976F3–0 / 0
Jun 13, 1976F3–0 / 0
Mar 13, 1990F2–0 / 0
Nov 12, 2005F2Madrid2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 13, 1976Tornado–$25M
Jun 12, 2010FloodBoxholm$20M
Mar 13, 1990Tornado–$3M
Nov 12, 2005TornadoMadrid$750K
Jun 5, 2008FloodRidgeport$600K
Jun 16, 1996Flash FloodBoone$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 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 Boone County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (25 policies)
6.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$447,510paid on 18 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $193,985 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 Boone County

$212,400median home value (Iowa $208,000, US $332,700)
1960median year homes were built (Iowa 1972, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.6%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; 12,041 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
Polk CountyModerate19
Dallas CountyLow18
Story CountyLow20
Webster CountyLow18
Hamilton CountyLow19
Greene CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Boone County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Boone County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Boone County, about $5.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $4.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Boone County had?

Boone County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms in August 2020.

Is Boone County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 69th 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 Boone County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Boone 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 Boone County had?

NOAA records list 53 tornadoes in Boone County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on June 13, 1976. The weather service has also logged 194 hail reports and 46 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.