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Warren County, Iowa

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

Very Low overall risk
49th of 99highest risk in Iowa
$19Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Warren County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 64% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $358 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms and flooding). Only 28 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $287,000 on 24 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Warren County

$6.9 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow35.9
$7M
TornadoModerate65.9
$4M
DroughtHigh91.7
$3M
Cold waveLow47.6
$1M
Heat waveLow65.5
$1M
Strong windModerate55.0
$1M
LightningModerate60.5
$560K
HailLow49.2
$416K
Ice stormLow51.3
$148K
WildfireVery Low59.4
$132K
EarthquakeVery Low20.5
$49K
Winter weatherLow25.7
$39K
LandslideLow72.4
$12K
HurricaneVery Low7.6
$1K

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 Warren County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm6
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 31, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 29, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 27, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 2008Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 16
Nov 20, 1997Severe SnowstormsMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 6, 1979Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
Jun 24, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 23, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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 865 storm reports in Warren County since 1953, with 1 death and 10 injuries and about $63.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on August 20, 2019 near Indianola Arpt.

48tornadoes
338hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
233damaging thunderstorm winds
117floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 20, 2019EF3Indianola Arpt0 / 0
Mar 29, 1979F3–1 / 0
Mar 5, 2022EF2Churchville0 / 0
Jun 22, 2007EF2Cumming0 / 0
Mar 29, 1979F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 12, 2010FloodCumming$20M
Mar 5, 2022TornadoChurchville$20M
Jun 25, 2015FloodCumming$1M
Jul 28, 2015Flash FloodCumming$1M
Jul 23, 2010TornadoSpring Hill$760K
Jun 10, 2011FloodHartford$750K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 17, 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 Warren County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (28 policies)
6.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$287,209paid on 24 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $118,406 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 Warren County

$269,600median home value (Iowa $208,000, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Iowa 1972, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.3%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; 21,921 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
Polk CountyModerate19
Dallas CountyLow18
Marion CountyVery Low17
Madison CountyVery Low18
Clarke CountyVery Low14
Lucas CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Warren County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Warren County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Warren County, about $6.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Warren County had?

Warren County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Warren County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 49th 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 Warren County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Warren 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 Warren County had?

NOAA records list 48 tornadoes in Warren County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on August 20, 2019 near Indianola Arpt. The weather service has also logged 338 hail reports and 117 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.