Monroe County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Monroe County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 90% of US counties. It ranks 98th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $924 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 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 Monroe County
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 90.2 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 9.1 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 39.9 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 26.8 | $514K | ||
| Strong wind | 29.1 | $405K | ||
| Heat wave | 42.4 | $366K | ||
| Hail | 30.3 | $170K | ||
| Lightning | 15.5 | $75K | ||
| Wildfire | 40.0 | $37K | ||
| Ice storm | 19.5 | $22K | ||
| Earthquake | 14.5 | $22K | ||
| Winter weather | 9.9 | $11K | ||
| Landslide | 69.9 | $8K | ||
| Hurricane | 7.3 | $798 |
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 Monroe County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Iowa also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 225 storm reports in Monroe County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $52.8 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 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 22, 2015 | EF3 | Weller | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 15, 1988 | F2 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Nov 11, 2015 | EF2 | Melrose | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 22, 2015 | EF2 | Albia | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 7, 1984 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 12, 2010 | Flood | Weller | $20M |
| Jun 25, 2015 | Flood | Iconium | $1M |
| May 28, 2013 | Flash Flood | Melrose | $500K |
| May 9, 1996 | Tornado | Avery | $380K |
| Jun 22, 1964 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 20, 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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; 3,656 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 | |
| Marion County | 17 | |
| Mahaska County | 18 | |
| Appanoose County | 14 | |
| Davis County | 15 | |
| Lucas County | 13 | |
| Wayne County | 13 |
Common questions about Monroe County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Monroe County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Monroe County, about $2.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Monroe County had?
Monroe County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in March 2019.
Is Monroe County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 98th 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 Monroe 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 Monroe County had?
NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Monroe County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1984. The weather service has also logged 61 hail reports and 46 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.