riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Howard County Disaster Risk

Howard County, Iowa

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

16th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#92

of 99 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

25th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 25% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 9% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 7% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 10% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Howard County

Risk Verdict

Howard County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 16th 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 Howard County, scoring in the 41th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 25th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (10th), wildfire (9th), earthquake (7th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Howard 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

Howard County is notably safer than the average county in Iowa. Its composite risk score is 24.1 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 Howard County, IA?
Howard County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 16th 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 Howard County?
Howard County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (41th percentile), flooding (25th percentile), hurricane (10th percentile), wildfire (9th percentile), earthquake (7th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 41th 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 Howard County risk compare to the Iowa average?
Howard County's composite risk percentile is 16th, compared to the Iowa state average of 40th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Howard County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Iowa.
Is Howard County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Howard County's tornado risk is at the 41th percentile nationally. This is below the national median, indicating relatively lower exposure. For flooding specifically, Howard County is at the 25th 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 Howard County a safe place to live?
Howard County's composite risk score of 16th 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 41th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Palo Alto County

Iowa

-0.1

Very Low

15th percentile

Fremont County

Iowa

-0.6

Very Low

15th percentile

Osceola County

Iowa

-0.7

Very Low

15th 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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