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Muscatine County, Iowa

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

Relatively Low overall risk
20th of 99highest risk in Iowa
$20Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Muscatine County, Iowa has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 58% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and hail. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $470 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (130 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.6 million on 355 claims here, including $2.9 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 Muscatine County

$10.1 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.
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Hail

Moderate
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow62.6
$10M
Strong windHigh91.6
$2M
HailModerate91.7
$2M
TornadoLow55.0
$2M
Heat waveLow76.5
$1M
DroughtModerate80.2
$965K
Cold waveLow41.4
$715K
LightningModerate72.2
$553K
EarthquakeVery Low54.1
$350K
Ice stormModerate73.0
$265K
Winter weatherModerate67.4
$122K
WildfireVery Low60.9
$92K
LandslideLow68.2
$5K
HurricaneVery Low12.9
$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 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 Muscatine County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood10
Severe Storm8
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 24, 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 17, 2020Severe StormsMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 5, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 31, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 27, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 19, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
May 2, 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 23, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 25, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 22, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 490 storm reports in Muscatine County since 1952, with 3 deaths and 24 injuries and about $32.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on June 1, 2007 near Fruitland.

41tornadoes
160hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
213damaging thunderstorm winds
67floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 1, 2007EF3Fruitland6 / 0
May 9, 1995F3Stockton To0 / 0
May 23, 1966F2–0 / 0
Apr 25, 2008EF2West Liberty0 / 0
Mar 6, 2017EF2Muscatine3 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2007TornadoFruitland$15M
Jun 1, 2008FloodMontpelier$9M
Jun 29, 1998Thunderstorm WindCountywide$2M
May 9, 1995TornadoStockton To$650K
Jun 24, 2013TornadoMuscatine$500K
Aug 29, 2009FloodWest Liberty$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 Muscatine County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (130 policies)
20.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.6 millionpaid on 355 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $2.9 million 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 Muscatine County

$182,100median home value (Iowa $208,000, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Iowa 1972, US 1980)
65%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.7%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; 18,454 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
Scott CountyModerate18
Johnson CountyModerate22
Rock Island County, ILModerate13
Cedar CountyVery Low16
Louisa CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Muscatine County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Muscatine County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Muscatine County, about $10.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Muscatine County had?

Muscatine County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.

Is Muscatine County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 20th 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 Muscatine County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Muscatine 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 Muscatine County had?

NOAA records list 41 tornadoes in Muscatine County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on June 1, 2007 near Fruitland. The weather service has also logged 160 hail reports and 67 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.