Shelby County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Shelby County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 80th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,078 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 2024 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 19 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $258,000 on 15 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Shelby 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 19.5 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 63.2 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 54.3 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 78.8 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 78.5 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 42.2 | $698K | ||
| Heat wave | 36.2 | $301K | ||
| Ice storm | 41.1 | $89K | ||
| Winter weather | 30.8 | $49K | ||
| Lightning | 8.9 | $46K | ||
| Wildfire | 21.1 | $13K | ||
| Earthquake | 7.7 | $12K | ||
| Landslide | 71.2 | $11K |
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 Shelby County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 18
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 300 storm reports in Shelby County since 1955 and about $8.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on April 26, 2024 near Shelby.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2024 | EF3 | Shelby | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 1955 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 25, 1973 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1975 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 1987 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 1987 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Sep 7, 1989 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Nov 11, 2015 | Tornado | Shelby | $1M |
| Jun 9, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elk Horn | $400K |
| May 18, 1962 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Sep 7, 1989 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 8, 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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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; 5,441 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pottawattamie County | 24 | |
| Carroll County | 14 | |
| Crawford County | 21 | |
| Harrison County | 22 | |
| Cass County | 17 | |
| Audubon County | 20 |
Common questions about Shelby County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Shelby County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Shelby County, about $3.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Shelby County had?
Shelby 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 Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.
Is Shelby County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 80th 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 Shelby County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Shelby 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 Shelby County had?
NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Shelby County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on April 26, 2024 near Shelby. The weather service has also logged 134 hail reports and 4 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.