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Lucas County, Iowa

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

Very Low overall risk
66th of 99highest risk in Iowa
$8Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lucas County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 70% of US counties. It ranks 66th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $912 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 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 Lucas County

$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 12 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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 floodingVery Low22.7
$2M
DroughtHigh94.4
$2M
TornadoLow57.3
$1M
Cold waveLow58.0
$1M
Strong windLow51.5
$469K
Heat waveLow54.9
$385K
HailLow64.2
$357K
WildfireVery Low54.6
$50K
LightningVery Low15.1
$42K
EarthquakeVery Low24.1
$34K
Ice stormLow28.1
$23K
Winter weatherVery Low21.6
$16K
LandslideLow73.8
$7K
HurricaneVery Low8.0
$889

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 high 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 Lucas County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm5
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Mar 23, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 31, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 29, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 27, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 2008Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 2, 1992Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 23, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1967

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 294 storm reports in Lucas County since 1967, with 1 death and 7 injuries and about $55.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1984.

13tornadoes
78hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
82damaging thunderstorm winds
72floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 7, 1984F4–0 / 0
Mar 5, 2022EF3Derby1 / 1
Apr 8, 1999F3Lucas4 / 0
Jun 9, 1967F2–0 / 0
Jun 7, 1984F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 7, 1984Tornado–$25M
Jun 12, 2010FloodNorwood$20M
Mar 5, 2022TornadoDerby$2M
Jul 20, 2010Flash FloodChariton$1M
Jul 28, 2015Thunderstorm WindWilliamson$550K
Jun 25, 2015FloodChariton$350K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Oct 30, 2024. 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 Lucas County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$19,113paid on 5 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $11,776 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 Lucas County

$120,200median home value (Iowa $208,000, US $332,700)
1962median year homes were built (Iowa 1972, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5%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; 4,074 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
Warren CountyVery Low16
Marion CountyVery Low17
Appanoose CountyVery Low14
Clarke CountyVery Low14
Decatur CountyVery Low12
Monroe CountyVery Low14
Wayne CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Lucas County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lucas County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lucas County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Lucas County had?

Lucas County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in March 2019.

Is Lucas County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 66th 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 Lucas 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 Lucas County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Lucas County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1984. The weather service has also logged 78 hail reports and 72 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.