riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Poweshiek County Disaster Risk

Poweshiek County, Iowa

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

31th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#62

of 99 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

20th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 20% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 60% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 26% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 12% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Poweshiek County

Risk Verdict

Poweshiek County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 31th 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 Poweshiek County, scoring in the 60th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 46th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (26th), flood (20th), hurricane (12th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Poweshiek 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

Poweshiek County is notably safer than the average county in Iowa. Its composite risk score is 8.4 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

Is your home insured against Poweshiek County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Poweshiek County, IA?
Poweshiek County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 31th 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 Poweshiek County?
Poweshiek County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (60th percentile), wildfire (46th percentile), earthquake (26th percentile), flooding (20th percentile), hurricane (12th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 60th 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 Poweshiek County risk compare to the Iowa average?
Poweshiek County's composite risk percentile is 31th, compared to the Iowa state average of 40th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Poweshiek County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Iowa.
Is Poweshiek County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Poweshiek County's tornado risk is at the 60th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Poweshiek County is at the 20th 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 Poweshiek County a safe place to live?
Poweshiek County's composite risk score of 31th 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 60th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Harrison County

Iowa

+0.0

Very Low

31th percentile

Henry County

Iowa

-0.4

Very Low

31th percentile

Chickasaw County

Iowa

+0.5

Very Low

32th 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.

Explore more data for Poweshiek County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score