riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Cedar County Disaster Risk

Cedar County, Iowa

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

22th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#84

of 99 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

28th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 28% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 32% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 27% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 10% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Cedar County

Risk Verdict

Cedar County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 22th 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 Cedar County, scoring in the 46th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 32th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (28th), earthquake (27th), hurricane (10th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Cedar 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 wildfire 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

Cedar County is notably safer than the average county in Iowa. Its composite risk score is 18.2 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 Cedar County, IA?
Cedar County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 22th 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 Cedar County?
Cedar County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (46th percentile), wildfire (32th percentile), flooding (28th percentile), earthquake (27th percentile), hurricane (10th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 46th 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 Cedar County risk compare to the Iowa average?
Cedar County's composite risk percentile is 22th, compared to the Iowa state average of 40th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Cedar County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Iowa.
Is Cedar County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Cedar County's tornado risk is at the 46th percentile nationally. This is below the national median, indicating relatively lower exposure. For flooding specifically, Cedar County is at the 28th 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 Cedar County a safe place to live?
Cedar County's composite risk score of 22th 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 46th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Keokuk County

Iowa

+0.3

Very Low

22th percentile

Franklin County

Iowa

+0.4

Very Low

22th percentile

Wayne County

Iowa

+0.5

Very Low

22th 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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