Natural Disasters in Iowa: History & Risk Data
118,095 recorded disaster events across 935 ZIP codes.
State Statistics
Event Timeline
Hazard Breakdown
Most Affected ZIP Codes in Iowa
📊 Iowa Disaster Profile
Iowa has one of the most extensive natural disaster records in the United States, with 118,095 documented events spread across 935 ZIP codes. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $51.3B. A total of 1,403 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.
⚠️ Hazard Distribution
Hailstorms lead Iowa's disaster profile with 51,891 events (44%), causing $4.1B in property damage. Other significant hazards include floods (25,355 events, $24.3B in damages), blizzards (22,173 events, $2.7B in damages), and tornadoes (9,352 events, $15.5B in damages). Iowa has no recorded hurricanes in the dataset.
📍 Geographic Impact
The most disaster-affected areas in Iowa include ZIP 50313 (538 events, $172.8M in damages), ZIP 50265 (523 events, $135.8M in damages), and ZIP 50310 (493 events, $140.5M in damages).
📈 Trends Over Time
Disaster frequency in Iowa has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 918% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2010 stands out as particularly active, with 7,374 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Iowa
What natural disasters occur in Iowa?
Iowa has experienced 118,095 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include hailstorms (51,891), floods (25,355), blizzards (22,173), tornadoes (9,352), severe wind events (6,661), extreme cold events (1,877), extreme heat events (674), wildfires (108), and earthquakes (4). The most common hazard is hailstorms, accounting for 44% of all events.
What are the most disaster-prone areas in Iowa?
Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in Iowa are ZIP 50313 (538 events), ZIP 50265 (523 events), ZIP 50310 (493 events), ZIP 50321 (492 events), and ZIP 50312 (484 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.
How much damage have natural disasters caused in Iowa?
Natural disasters have caused a documented $51.3B in property damage across Iowa. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.
About This Data
State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →