Poweshiek County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Poweshiek County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 62nd of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $634 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 7 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 Poweshiek 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 | 95.3 | $3M | ||
| Inland flooding | 20.3 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 59.8 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 78.9 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 74.3 | $790K | ||
| Cold wave | 39.5 | $755K | ||
| Heat wave | 48.7 | $410K | ||
| Lightning | 20.0 | $79K | ||
| Ice storm | 42.6 | $70K | ||
| Winter weather | 46.8 | $67K | ||
| Earthquake | 25.6 | $54K | ||
| Wildfire | 46.1 | $43K | ||
| Landslide | 71.8 | $8K | ||
| Hurricane | 11.7 | $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 Poweshiek County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 13
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 364 storm reports in Poweshiek County since 1953, with 6 deaths and 60 injuries and about $42.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 16, 1978.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 1978 | F3 | – | 43 / 4 |
| Apr 19, 1966 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 12, 1956 | F3 | – | 8 / 0 |
| Sep 30, 2007 | EF2 | Searsboro | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 26, 1978 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2010 | Flood | Chester Center | $20M |
| Sep 30, 2007 | Tornado | Searsboro | $4M |
| Apr 6, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Grinnell | $3M |
| Sep 16, 1978 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 26, 1978 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 8, 1988 | Tornado | – | $3M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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 Poweshiek 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 Poweshiek 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; 8,975 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | 18 | |
| Jasper County | 17 | |
| Benton County | 16 | |
| Mahaska County | 18 | |
| Tama County | 19 | |
| Iowa County | 21 | |
| Keokuk County | 17 |
Common questions about Poweshiek County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Poweshiek County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Poweshiek County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Poweshiek County had?
Poweshiek County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.
Is Poweshiek County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 62nd 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 Poweshiek County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Poweshiek 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 Poweshiek County had?
NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Poweshiek County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 16, 1978. The weather service has also logged 93 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.