Crawford County, Iowa Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 61th
Crawford County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 60.8, 61th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $24M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Crawford County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 60.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 61st national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 9.58 events per year; tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.58 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $16K in expected annual loss and about 0.53 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $24M in expected annual loss for a population of 17K.
Beyond physical exposure, Crawford County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low 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 federal record bears this out: Crawford County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 9 for severe storm events and 8 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in May 2025.
Among 99 Iowa counties, Crawford County ranks #15 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 9.58 / yr | $6M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.58 / yr | $5M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.53 / yr | $16K |
| Hail | Medium | 5.79 / yr | $801K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 7.00 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.34 / yr | $918K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.75 / yr | $171K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.82 / yr | $9M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 14.58 / yr | $64K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $40K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 5.68 / yr | $152K |
| Lightning | Low | 43.53 / yr | $104K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $10K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Crawford County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in May 2025. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (9), Flood (8), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2024 | Tornado | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| August 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| July 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| March 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| February 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| May 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Crawford County?
Crawford County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 60.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 61th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Crawford County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $6M EAL), Tornado (Medium, $5M EAL), Landslide (Low, $16K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Crawford County compare to other Iowa counties?
Crawford County ranks #15 of 99 Iowa counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Crawford County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Crawford County since 1965, most often 9 for severe storm events and 8 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in May 2025.
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. Crawford County's $24M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.