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Floyd County, Iowa

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

Relatively Low overall risk
30th of 99highest risk in Iowa
$15Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Floyd County, Iowa has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 30th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $932 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds and tornadoes). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (87 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.5 million on 264 claims here, including $3.4 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 Floyd County

$7.7 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.3 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.
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 23 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow56.3
$8M
TornadoModerate68.0
$2M
DroughtHigh93.9
$2M
Cold waveLow50.8
$945K
HailModerate80.9
$890K
Strong windLow34.8
$334K
Winter weatherModerate65.8
$107K
Heat waveVery Low20.9
$64K
LightningVery Low15.9
$52K
Ice stormLow27.9
$27K
WildfireVery Low28.8
$13K
EarthquakeVery Low11.0
$11K
HurricaneVery Low12.1
$3K
LandslideVery Low29.4
$281

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 moderate 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 Floyd County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood8
Severe Storm8
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 24, 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 31, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 29, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 27, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 18
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1999Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 14, 1969Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 1968Tornadoes & Severe StormsMajor disaster
Apr 22, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

Iowa also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 425 storm reports in Floyd County since 1959, with 14 deaths and 460 injuries and about $52.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on May 15, 1968.

26tornadoes
165hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
159damaging thunderstorm winds
58floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 15, 1968F5–450 / 13
May 5, 1965F4–6 / 0
May 5, 1965F4–0 / 0
Sep 28, 1986F2–2 / 0
Aug 27, 1964F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 15, 1968Tornado–$25M
Jul 22, 2017Flash FloodKnoop Arpt$7M
Jun 7, 2008FloodFolkerts Fld Arpt$2M
Jul 22, 1995HailMarble Rock To$2M
Jun 8, 2008FloodFloyd Crossing$2M
Jul 19, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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 Floyd County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (87 policies)
19%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.5 millionpaid on 264 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $3.4 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 Floyd County

$143,500median home value (Iowa $208,000, US $332,700)
1958median year homes were built (Iowa 1972, US 1980)
83%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.3%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; 7,306 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
Cerro Gordo CountyLow13
Bremer CountyVery Low15
Butler CountyVery Low23
Chickasaw CountyVery Low17
Mitchell CountyVery Low18
Franklin CountyVery Low20
Howard CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Floyd County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Floyd County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Floyd County, about $7.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Floyd County had?

Floyd County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in June 2024.

Is Floyd County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 30th 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 Floyd County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Floyd 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 Floyd County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Floyd County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on May 15, 1968. The weather service has also logged 165 hail reports and 58 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.