Louisa County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Louisa County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 90th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and drought. FEMA estimates about $8.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $779 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 March 2019 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 62 homes here carry federal flood insurance (97 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.5 million on 120 claims here, including $3.5 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 Louisa 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 20.9 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 77.3 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 77.3 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 34.2 | $828K | ||
| Hail | 67.9 | $648K | ||
| Heat wave | 52.2 | $532K | ||
| Cold wave | 20.3 | $293K | ||
| Lightning | 30.1 | $138K | ||
| Ice storm | 49.2 | $105K | ||
| Earthquake | 30.2 | $99K | ||
| Winter weather | 22.3 | $26K | ||
| Wildfire | 35.2 | $25K | ||
| Landslide | 64.7 | $5K | ||
| Hurricane | 11.8 | $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 very low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Louisa County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 18
Iowa also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1962
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 241 storm reports in Louisa County since 1962, with 2 deaths and 6 injuries and about $63.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on June 1, 2007 near Grandview.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2007 | EF3 | Grandview | 1 / 0 |
| May 8, 1988 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 24, 1967 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 9, 1970 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 24, 1967 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 1988 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 1, 2008 | Flood | Gladwin | $19M |
| Apr 30, 2003 | Hail | Morning Sun | $4M |
| Jul 29, 2016 | Flash Flood | Gladwin | $3M |
| Jul 13, 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbus City | $2M |
| Jun 29, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 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 Louisa 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 Louisa 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; 4,739 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | 22 | |
| Rock Island County, IL | 13 | |
| Muscatine County | 19 | |
| Des Moines County | 25 | |
| Washington County | 13 | |
| Henry County | 14 | |
| Mercer County, IL | 13 |
Common questions about Louisa County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Louisa County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Louisa County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $1.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Louisa County had?
Louisa 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 and Flooding in March 2019.
Is Louisa County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 90th 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 Louisa County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 63 homes in Louisa 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 Louisa County had?
NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Louisa County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on June 1, 2007 near Grandview. The weather service has also logged 67 hail reports and 70 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.