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Monona County, Iowa

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

Very Low overall risk
75th of 99highest risk in Iowa
$9Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Monona County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 75th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $8.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $996 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm). Only 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $597,000 on 30 claims here.

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

Top risks in Monona County

$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 26 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low25.0
$3M
TornadoLow58.0
$2M
DroughtModerate89.3
$2M
HailModerate82.6
$1M
Cold waveLow33.6
$509K
Strong windLow39.0
$412K
Heat waveVery Low31.7
$153K
WildfireLow63.5
$112K
Ice stormLow43.2
$64K
LightningVery Low11.8
$41K
EarthquakeVery Low14.0
$15K
LandslideLow76.8
$11K
Winter weatherVery Low10.8
$9K

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 Monona County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood7
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 27, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
May 5, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
May 27, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 25, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 18
Mar 30, 2007SnowEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 21, 1996Severe Storms, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 22, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 331 storm reports in Monona County since 1953, with 4 deaths and 64 injuries and about $265 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on July 28, 1986.

30tornadoes
144hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
136damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 28, 1986F4–0 / 0
Jun 11, 2008EF3Blencoe48 / 4
Apr 9, 2011EF3Mapleton14 / 0
Sep 9, 1965F2–0 / 0
May 28, 1991F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 28, 1986Tornado–$250M
Aug 1, 2011FloodAlbaton$5M
Mar 13, 2019FloodMapleton Muni Arpt$4M
May 5, 2007Flash FloodOnawa$1M
Jun 24, 2024FloodAlbaton$1M
Aug 7, 1994Thunderstorm WindMapleton$550K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 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 Monona County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (29 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$597,452paid on 30 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $366,872 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 Monona County

$142,900median home value (Iowa $208,000, US $332,700)
1956median year homes were built (Iowa 1972, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.8%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; 4,372 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
Woodbury CountyModerate16
Crawford CountyLow21
Harrison CountyVery Low22
Ida CountyVery Low18
Thurston County, NEVery Low22
Burt County, NEVery Low18

Common questions about Monona County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Monona County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Monona County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Monona County had?

Monona County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in May 2025.

Is Monona County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 75th 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 Monona County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Monona 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 Monona County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Monona County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on July 28, 1986. The weather service has also logged 144 hail reports and 21 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.