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Iowa County, Wisconsin

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

Very Low overall risk
67th of 72highest risk in Wisconsin
$11Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Iowa County, Wisconsin 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 67th of 72 counties in Wisconsin. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $456 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 19 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $216,000 on 25 claims here.

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

Top risks in Iowa County

$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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.
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.6 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low31.7
$5M
Cold waveLow60.3
$2M
TornadoLow49.3
$2M
HailModerate80.4
$1M
Strong windLow37.4
$507K
Heat waveLow43.8
$367K
LandslideModerate91.9
$99K
LightningVery Low15.3
$69K
Ice stormLow29.2
$40K
EarthquakeVery Low19.3
$36K
Winter weatherVery Low21.5
$26K
DroughtVery Low28.0
$25K
WildfireVery Low19.5
$10K
HurricaneVery Low8.2
$2K

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 Iowa County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood2
Drought1
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 7, 2017Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudMajor disaster
Aug 8, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 5, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 14, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 26, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 18, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 24, 2000Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jul 13, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 1984Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Mar 23, 1976Severe Storms, Icing, Wind & FloodingMajor disaster

Wisconsin also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 377 storm reports in Iowa County since 1954, with 9 deaths and 206 injuries and about $42.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on June 7, 1984.

35tornadoes
102hail reports, largest 4 inches
205damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 7, 1984F5–200 / 9
Jul 3, 1983F4–0 / 0
Jun 29, 2014EF2Montfort Jct0 / 0
Jun 29, 2014EF2Edmund0 / 0
Apr 3, 1956F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 13, 2006HailRidgeway$4M
Apr 13, 2006HailRewey$4M
Apr 13, 2006HailRewey$4M
Apr 13, 2006HailMineral Pt$4M
Apr 13, 2006HailDodgeville$4M
Jun 29, 2014TornadoMontfort Jct$4M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 2, 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 Iowa County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (19 policies)
13.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$215,665paid on 25 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $137,433 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 Iowa County

$265,000median home value (Wisconsin $266,500, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Wisconsin 1975, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.6%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; 11,108 housing units.

Compare in Wisconsin

All 72 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Milwaukee CountyHighCold wave
Dane CountyModerateInland flooding
Waukesha CountyModerateInland flooding
Brown CountyModerateInland flooding
Racine CountyModerateInland flooding
Outagamie CountyLowInland flooding
Winnebago CountyModerateInland flooding
Kenosha CountyModerateCold wave

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Dane CountyModerate17
Sauk CountyLow13
Grant CountyLow18
Green CountyLow15
Richland CountyLow17
Lafayette CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Iowa County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Iowa County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Iowa County, about $4.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Iowa County had?

Iowa County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Iowa County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 67th highest of 72 in Wisconsin. 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 Iowa County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Iowa 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 Iowa County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Iowa County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on June 7, 1984. The weather service has also logged 102 hail reports and 24 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.