Polk County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Polk County, Iowa has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 92% of US counties. It ranks 1st of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $138 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $279 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 September 2026 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (670 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $39 million on 1,550 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Polk 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 92.1 | $61M | ||
| Tornado | 98.1 | $31M | ||
| Strong wind | 99.2 | $11M | ||
| Heat wave | 96.7 | $11M | ||
| Cold wave | 91.3 | $10M | ||
| Hail | 97.9 | $7M | ||
| Drought | 94.8 | $3M | ||
| Ice storm | 91.7 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 66.8 | $820K | ||
| Lightning | 78.1 | $816K | ||
| Winter weather | 90.3 | $506K | ||
| Wildfire | 57.7 | $91K | ||
| Hurricane | 27.5 | $14K | ||
| Landslide | 68.4 | $6K |
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 very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Polk County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 19
Iowa also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 2,128 storm reports in Polk County since 1955, with 6 deaths and 206 injuries and about $343 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 18, 1974.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 1974 | F4 | – | 50 / 2 |
| Sep 28, 1986 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 5, 2022 | EF2 | Avon | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 29, 1998 | F2 | Grimes | 83 / 0 |
| May 21, 2024 | EF2 | Rider | 2 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 5, 2022 | Tornado | Avon | $75M |
| Jun 1, 2008 | Flood | Pleasant Hill | $50M |
| Jun 29, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Des Moines | $40M |
| Jun 18, 1974 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 12, 2010 | Flood | Pleasant Hill | $20M |
| Jun 29, 1998 | Tornado | Grimes | $10M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 30, 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 Polk 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 Polk 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; 218,486 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas County | 18 | |
| Story County | 20 | |
| Warren County | 16 | |
| Jasper County | 17 | |
| Marion County | 17 | |
| Boone County | 15 | |
| Madison County | 18 |
Cities in Polk County
Common questions about Polk County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Polk County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Polk County, about $60.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $30.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Polk County had?
Polk 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 and Flooding in September 2026.
Is Polk County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 1st 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 Polk County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Polk 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 Polk County had?
NOAA records list 68 tornadoes in Polk County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 18, 1974. The weather service has also logged 670 hail reports and 268 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.