Allamakee County, Iowa Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 38th
Allamakee County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 38.2, 38th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Allamakee County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 38.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 38th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $66K in expected annual loss and about 0.69 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $753K in expected annual loss and about 4.11 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 7.37 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 14K.
Beyond physical exposure, Allamakee County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Allamakee County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 12 for flood events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Flooding (flood), declared in August 2023.
Among 99 Iowa counties, Allamakee County ranks #44 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 0.69 / yr | $66K |
| Hail | Medium | 4.11 / yr | $753K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 7.37 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.40 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.61 / yr | $6M |
| Drought | Low | 6.77 / yr | $131K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.11 / yr | $236K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.70 / yr | $397K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.39 / yr | $23K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 16.79 / yr | $15K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 38.06 / yr | $57K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $11K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Allamakee County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Flooding in August 2023. Most frequent causes: Flood (12), Severe Storm (7), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | Flood | Flooding |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| August 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| October 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| July 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| July 2014 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| July 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Allamakee County?
Allamakee County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 38.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 38th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Allamakee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $66K EAL), Hail (Medium, $753K EAL), Cold Wave (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Allamakee County compare to other Iowa counties?
Allamakee County ranks #44 of 99 Iowa counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Allamakee County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Allamakee County since 1965, most often 12 for flood events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Flooding, declared in August 2023.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Allamakee County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.