Des Moines County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Des Moines County, Iowa has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 56% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $501 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (129 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $9.4 million on 352 claims here, including $4.6 million for floods in 2008.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Des Moines 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 56.0 | $8M | ||
| Tornado | 69.4 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 83.4 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 90.1 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 85.0 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 85.0 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 36.6 | $598K | ||
| Lightning | 66.4 | $454K | ||
| Earthquake | 56.7 | $408K | ||
| Ice storm | 67.0 | $194K | ||
| Winter weather | 59.7 | $93K | ||
| Wildfire | 42.9 | $32K | ||
| Landslide | 72.7 | $8K | ||
| Hurricane | 15.4 | $4K |
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 Des Moines County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 25
Iowa also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 493 storm reports in Des Moines County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 32 injuries and about $33.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on August 25, 1965.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25, 1965 | F3 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 23, 1966 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 13, 1974 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 1954 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 4, 1977 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2003 | Hail | Burlington | $10M |
| May 12, 2010 | Flash Flood | Pleasantgrove | $4M |
| Jun 1, 2008 | Flood | Huron | $4M |
| Jun 29, 1983 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Sep 11, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $2M |
| May 8, 2003 | Hail | Burlington | $2M |
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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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; 18,802 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lee County | 20 | |
| Henry County | 14 | |
| Mercer County, IL | 13 | |
| Louisa County | 18 | |
| Henderson County, IL | 14 |
Common questions about Des Moines County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Des Moines County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Des Moines County, about $8.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Des Moines County had?
Des Moines County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in June 2024.
Is Des Moines County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 22nd 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 Des Moines County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Des Moines 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 Des Moines County had?
NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Des Moines County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on August 25, 1965. The weather service has also logged 123 hail reports and 84 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.