Keokuk County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Keokuk County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 83rd of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $8.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $891 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2019 (severe storms and flooding). Only 4 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 Keokuk 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 local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 29.6 | $4M | ||
| Drought | 80.5 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 42.3 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 66.4 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 68.2 | $599K | ||
| Heat wave | 52.0 | $478K | ||
| Cold wave | 24.1 | $356K | ||
| Lightning | 28.0 | $117K | ||
| Earthquake | 21.9 | $39K | ||
| Wildfire | 44.4 | $39K | ||
| Winter weather | 30.5 | $35K | ||
| Ice storm | 27.2 | $31K | ||
| Hurricane | 10.4 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 54.3 | $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 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 Keokuk County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 17
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 282 storm reports in Keokuk County since 1959, with 3 deaths and 45 injuries and about $35.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1984.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 7, 1984 | F4 | – | 33 / 1 |
| Mar 31, 2023 | EF4 | Talleyrand | 3 / 0 |
| May 9, 1959 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 20, 1965 | F3 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Mar 31, 2023 | EF3 | Martinsburg | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 7, 1984 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 7, 1984 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 1, 2008 | Flood | Delta | $570K |
| May 10, 2003 | Hail | South English | $500K |
| May 10, 2003 | Hail | North English | $500K |
| May 1, 2009 | Flood | Coal Creek | $500K |
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 Keokuk 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 Keokuk 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; 4,647 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 | |
| Washington County | 13 | |
| Mahaska County | 18 | |
| Poweshiek County | 13 | |
| Iowa County | 21 | |
| Jefferson County | 10 |
Common questions about Keokuk County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Keokuk County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Keokuk County, about $4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Keokuk County had?
Keokuk County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in March 2019.
Is Keokuk County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 83rd 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 Keokuk 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 Keokuk County had?
NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Keokuk County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1984. The weather service has also logged 71 hail reports and 37 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.