Cedar County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Cedar County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 84th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $675 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 27 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $974,000 on 38 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Cedar County
- 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 27.6 | $5M | ||
| Tornado | 45.6 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 71.9 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 80.3 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 68.4 | $857K | ||
| Cold wave | 25.2 | $539K | ||
| Heat wave | 42.5 | $425K | ||
| Lightning | 20.4 | $114K | ||
| Ice storm | 45.5 | $113K | ||
| Earthquake | 27.4 | $93K | ||
| Winter weather | 33.9 | $58K | ||
| Wildfire | 31.8 | $26K | ||
| Landslide | 57.3 | $4K | ||
| Hurricane | 10.3 | $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 Cedar County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 16
Iowa also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 498 storm reports in Cedar County since 1956, with 1 death and 24 injuries and about $15.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1965 | F4 | – | 0 / 1 |
| May 15, 1998 | F3 | Downey | 2 / 0 |
| May 8, 1988 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 27, 1995 | F2 | Atalissa To | 0 / 0 |
| May 9, 1995 | F2 | Cedar Bluff | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2008 | Flood | Cedar Bluff | $4M |
| Apr 11, 1965 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 8, 1988 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jul 20, 2003 | Tornado | Clarence | $1M |
| Jul 27, 1995 | Tornado | Atalissa To | $560K |
| May 9, 1995 | Tornado | Cedar Bluff | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Cedar County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Cedar County
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; 8,300 housing units.
Compare in Iowa
All 99 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Polk County | Inland flooding | |
| Linn County | Inland flooding | |
| Scott County | Inland flooding | |
| Johnson County | Tornado | |
| Black Hawk County | Inland flooding | |
| Woodbury County | Inland flooding | |
| Dallas County | Inland flooding | |
| Dubuque County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Linn County | 21 | |
| Scott County | 18 | |
| Johnson County | 22 | |
| Clinton County | 20 | |
| Muscatine County | 19 | |
| Jones County | 20 |
Common questions about Cedar County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Cedar County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cedar County, about $5.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Cedar County had?
Cedar County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.
Is Cedar County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 84th 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 Cedar County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Cedar 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 Cedar County had?
NOAA records list 45 tornadoes in Cedar County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 11, 1965. The weather service has also logged 141 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.