Henry County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Henry County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 63rd of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $9.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $472 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2019 (severe storms and flooding). 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 Henry 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- 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 | 26.7 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 81.0 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 80.1 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 48.5 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 80.0 | $835K | ||
| Drought | 78.3 | $804K | ||
| Cold wave | 30.7 | $419K | ||
| Lightning | 63.5 | $368K | ||
| Earthquake | 43.6 | $183K | ||
| Ice storm | 40.5 | $52K | ||
| Winter weather | 42.6 | $48K | ||
| Wildfire | 47.9 | $41K | ||
| Hurricane | 16.1 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 62.2 | $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 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 Henry County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Iowa also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 302 storm reports in Henry County since 1957, with 1 death and 7 injuries and about $5.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on May 3, 2012 near Wayland.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 2012 | EF2 | Wayland | 1 / 0 |
| May 4, 1977 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 2024 | EF2 | Salem | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 2003 | F1 | Mt Pleasant | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 20, 2015 | EF1 | Mt Pleasant Muni Arp | 2 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2003 | Tornado | Mt Pleasant | $1M |
| Jun 1, 2008 | Flood | Rome | $535K |
| May 10, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Winfield | $500K |
| Aug 13, 2010 | Flood | Coppock | $500K |
| May 3, 2012 | Tornado | Wayland | $500K |
| Oct 29, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $450K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 17, 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 Henry 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 Henry 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; 8,445 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines County | 25 | |
| Lee County | 20 | |
| Washington County | 13 | |
| Jefferson County | 10 | |
| Louisa County | 18 | |
| Van Buren County | 14 |
Common questions about Henry County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Henry County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Henry County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Henry County had?
Henry County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in March 2019.
Is Henry County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 63rd 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 Henry 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 Henry County had?
NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Henry County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on May 3, 2012 near Wayland. The weather service has also logged 106 hail reports and 25 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.