Davis County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Davis County, Iowa has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 50% of US counties. It ranks 25th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,237 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2022 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Davis County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 98.7 | $5M | ||
| Inland flooding | 32.7 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 68.7 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 75.7 | $827K | ||
| Strong wind | 64.0 | $560K | ||
| Cold wave | 36.4 | $387K | ||
| Hail | 57.6 | $240K | ||
| Lightning | 57.8 | $213K | ||
| Wildfire | 68.6 | $110K | ||
| Earthquake | 33.3 | $68K | ||
| Ice storm | 35.6 | $30K | ||
| Winter weather | 29.8 | $20K | ||
| Landslide | 79.5 | $10K | ||
| Hurricane | 13.9 | $2K |
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 high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Davis County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 15
Iowa also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1962
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 273 storm reports in Davis County since 1962 and about $57.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on January 24, 1967.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 1967 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 8, 1999 | F3 | Bloomfield | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 1988 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1980 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 20, 1965 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 1988 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 12, 2010 | Flood | Ash Grove | $20M |
| Jun 2, 1980 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 7, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bloomfield | $1M |
| Jun 7, 2009 | Hail | Bloomfield | $775K |
| Jun 7, 2009 | Hail | Floris | $755K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Nov 5, 2024. 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 Davis 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 Davis 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; 3,612 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wapello County | 18 | |
| Jefferson County | 10 | |
| Appanoose County | 14 | |
| Monroe County | 14 | |
| Van Buren County | 14 | |
| Scotland County, MO | 22 | |
| Schuyler County, MO | 16 |
Common questions about Davis County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Davis County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Davis County, about $4.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Davis County had?
Davis County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in February 2022.
Is Davis County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 25th 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 Davis 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 Davis County had?
NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Davis County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on January 24, 1967. The weather service has also logged 87 hail reports and 23 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.