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Carroll County, Iowa

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

Relatively Low overall risk
21st of 99highest risk in Iowa
$23Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

Carroll County, Iowa has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 58% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $23 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,091 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2019 (severe storms and flooding). Only 14 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $360,000 on 13 claims here.

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

Top risks in Carroll County

Tornado

Moderate
$6.2 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.
$5.1 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.

Hail

High
$4.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoModerate85.5
$6M
Inland floodingLow37.5
$5M
HailHigh96.9
$5M
DroughtHigh94.7
$3M
Strong windModerate83.7
$2M
Cold waveLow59.2
$2M
Ice stormModerate64.6
$189K
LightningVery Low21.9
$87K
Winter weatherLow53.4
$83K
Heat waveVery Low20.4
$74K
EarthquakeVery Low19.8
$32K
WildfireVery Low28.5
$15K
HurricaneVery Low19.4
$6K
LandslideVery Low44.9
$1K

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 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 Carroll County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm4
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Mar 23, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
May 27, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 30, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 26, 1991Ice StormMajor disaster
Show all 14
May 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 1974Severe 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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 454 storm reports in Carroll County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 89 injuries and about $54.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 27, 1995 near Carroll To.

34tornadoes
143hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
201damaging thunderstorm winds
27floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 27, 1995F4Carroll To0 / 0
May 27, 1995F2Dedham To0 / 0
May 5, 1960F2–0 / 0
Jun 7, 1972F2–0 / 0
Aug 11, 1976F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 10, 2002Thunderstorm WindGlidden$20M
Jun 12, 2010FloodBreda$20M
May 27, 1995TornadoCarroll To$3M
Jul 10, 2002Thunderstorm WindCarroll$3M
Jul 19, 2008TornadoTempleton$650K
Aug 18, 1993TornadoBreda$505K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 9, 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 Carroll County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (14 policies)
28.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$360,246paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $254,940 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 Carroll County

$176,000median home value (Iowa $208,000, US $332,700)
1964median year homes were built (Iowa 1972, US 1980)
72%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; 9,560 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
Crawford CountyLow21
Shelby CountyVery Low18
Guthrie CountyVery Low15
Calhoun CountyLow16
Sac CountyVery Low17
Greene CountyVery Low17
Audubon CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Carroll County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Carroll County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Carroll County, about $6.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $5.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Carroll County had?

Carroll County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in March 2019.

Is Carroll County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 21st 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 Carroll County?

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

NOAA records list 34 tornadoes in Carroll County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 27, 1995 near Carroll To. The weather service has also logged 143 hail reports and 27 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.