riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Bremer County Disaster Risk

Bremer County, Iowa

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

25th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#76

of 99 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

33th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 33% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 23% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 52% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 14% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 8% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Bremer County

Risk Verdict

Bremer County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 25th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado risk is the dominant hazard for Bremer County, scoring in the 52th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 33th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (23th), earthquake (14th), hurricane (8th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Bremer County residents should identify a safe room or interior space on the lowest floor, have a NOAA weather radio, and practice tornado drills with your household. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Bremer County is notably safer than the average county in Iowa. Its composite risk score is 15.1 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Bremer County, IA?
Bremer County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 25th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Bremer County?
Bremer County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (52th percentile), flooding (33th percentile), wildfire (23th percentile), earthquake (14th percentile), hurricane (8th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 52th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Bremer County risk compare to the Iowa average?
Bremer County's composite risk percentile is 25th, compared to the Iowa state average of 40th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Bremer County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Iowa.
Is Bremer County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Bremer County's tornado risk is at the 52th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Bremer County is at the 33th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Bremer County a safe place to live?
Bremer County's composite risk score of 25th percentile is below the Iowa state average of 40th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is tornado at the 52th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Humboldt County

Iowa

-0.5

Very Low

24th percentile

Buchanan County

Iowa

-0.5

Very Low

24th percentile

Monona County

Iowa

+0.5

Very Low

25th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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