Wayne County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Wayne County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 81st of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $915 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2019 (severe storms and flooding). No 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 Wayne 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 | 94.8 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 14.0 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 55.2 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 44.5 | $594K | ||
| Heat wave | 52.7 | $326K | ||
| Strong wind | 40.1 | $318K | ||
| Hail | 51.5 | $213K | ||
| Ice storm | 37.9 | $37K | ||
| Lightning | 11.2 | $29K | ||
| Wildfire | 43.2 | $24K | ||
| Earthquake | 20.3 | $22K | ||
| Winter weather | 12.1 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 55.6 | $2K | ||
| Hurricane | 8.9 | $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 relatively high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Wayne 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 332 storm reports in Wayne County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 57 injuries and about $70.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1984.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 7, 1984 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1980 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 20, 1959 | F4 | – | 5 / 0 |
| May 10, 1953 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 1961 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 7, 1984 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 12, 2010 | Flood | Humeston | $20M |
| Aug 26, 2009 | Flash Flood | Bentonville | $3M |
| Apr 23, 1961 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 29, 1970 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 2, 1980 | Tornado | – | $3M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 7, 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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; 3,019 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Appanoose County | 14 | |
| Clarke County | 14 | |
| Lucas County | 13 | |
| Decatur County | 12 | |
| Monroe County | 14 | |
| Putnam County, MO | 17 | |
| Mercer County, MO | 18 |
Common questions about Wayne County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Wayne County?
Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Wayne County, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Wayne County had?
Wayne County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in March 2019.
Is Wayne County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 81st 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 Wayne County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Wayne County had?
NOAA records list 33 tornadoes in Wayne County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1984. The weather service has also logged 82 hail reports and 62 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.