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Jasper County, Iowa

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

Relatively Low overall risk
34th of 99highest risk in Iowa
$16Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Jasper County, Iowa has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 34th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $425 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms and flooding). Only 24 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 37 claims here, including $643,000 for floods in 2024.

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

Top risks in Jasper County

$5.7 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.
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Tornado

Moderate
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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 floodingLow40.2
$6M
DroughtHigh95.8
$3M
TornadoModerate70.3
$3M
Strong windModerate79.8
$2M
HailModerate79.1
$969K
Cold waveLow32.2
$540K
Heat waveLow50.1
$433K
LightningLow31.5
$133K
Winter weatherModerate66.4
$132K
Ice stormLow54.1
$117K
EarthquakeVery Low28.5
$74K
WildfireVery Low53.1
$64K
LandslideLow73.5
$10K
HurricaneVery Low12.2
$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 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 Jasper County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood6
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 24, 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 17, 2020Severe StormsMajor 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
Jul 29, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 27, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 17
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 20, 1997Severe SnowstormsMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 25, 1969FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 566 storm reports in Jasper County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 6 injuries and about $87.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on September 28, 1986.

45tornadoes
220hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
189damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 28, 1986F4–0 / 0
Sep 16, 1978F3–2 / 2
Oct 14, 1966F3–0 / 0
Mar 5, 2022EF2Vandalia0 / 0
Sep 30, 2007EF2Sully Muni Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 5, 2022TornadoVandalia$50M
Jun 12, 2010FloodClyde$20M
Sep 28, 1986Tornado–$3M
Mar 9, 2002Thunderstorm WindNewton Muni Arpt$2M
Sep 30, 2007TornadoSully Muni Arpt$2M
Apr 8, 1999TornadoPrairie City$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 17, 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 Jasper County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (24 policies)
13.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 37 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $642,912 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 Jasper County

$186,300median home value (Iowa $208,000, US $332,700)
1965median year homes were built (Iowa 1972, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 16,249 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
Polk CountyModerate19
Story CountyLow20
Marshall CountyLow18
Marion CountyVery Low17
Mahaska CountyVery Low18
Poweshiek CountyVery Low13
Tama CountyLow19

Common questions about Jasper County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jasper County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Jasper County, about $5.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $3.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Jasper County had?

Jasper County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Jasper County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 34th 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 Jasper County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Jasper 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 Jasper County had?

NOAA records list 45 tornadoes in Jasper County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on September 28, 1986. The weather service has also logged 220 hail reports and 35 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.