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Crawford County, Iowa

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

Relatively Low overall risk
15th of 99highest risk in Iowa
$24Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Crawford County, Iowa has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 61% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,425 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm). Only 2 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 88 claims here, including $1.3 million for floods in 1996.

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

Top risks in Crawford County

$8.6 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.
$6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.8 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 floodingLow56.1
$9M
DroughtHigh98.4
$6M
TornadoModerate82.4
$5M
Cold waveModerate66.4
$2M
Strong windModerate65.7
$918K
HailModerate76.8
$801K
Ice stormModerate63.9
$171K
Heat waveVery Low30.7
$152K
LightningLow26.9
$104K
Winter weatherLow48.1
$64K
WildfireVery Low46.2
$40K
LandslideLow79.8
$16K
EarthquakeVery Low9.9
$10K

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 relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood8
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1
Tornado1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 14, 2024Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 5, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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
May 25, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 30, 2007SnowEmergency
Show all 21
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 1999Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 1999Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 21, 1996Severe Storms, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 1974Severe 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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 439 storm reports in Crawford County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries and about $53.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 26, 1991.

38tornadoes
148hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
185damaging thunderstorm winds
29floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 26, 1991F3–0 / 0
Jun 16, 1992F3–3 / 0
Jun 29, 1998F2Dow City0 / 0
May 16, 1999F2Ricketts0 / 0
Jul 26, 1969F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 12, 2010FloodRicketts$20M
Jun 21, 1996Flash FloodDenison$11M
Jul 10, 2002Thunderstorm WindSchleswig$3M
Jul 10, 2002Thunderstorm WindSchleswig$3M
Jul 10, 2002Thunderstorm WindDenison$3M
Apr 26, 1991Tornado–$3M

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 Crawford County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 88 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $1.3 million 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 Crawford County

$153,700median home value (Iowa $208,000, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (Iowa 1972, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.2%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; 6,869 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
Woodbury CountyModerate16
Carroll CountyLow14
Harrison CountyVery Low22
Shelby CountyVery Low18
Sac CountyVery Low17
Monona CountyVery Low18
Ida CountyVery Low18
Audubon CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Crawford County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Crawford County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Crawford County, about $8.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $6 million.

How many federal disasters has Crawford County had?

Crawford County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in May 2025.

Is Crawford County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 15th 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 Crawford 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 Crawford County had?

NOAA records list 38 tornadoes in Crawford County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 26, 1991. The weather service has also logged 148 hail reports and 29 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.