Henry County, Iowa Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 31th
Henry County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 30.9, 31th national percentile), driven primarily by heat wave and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Henry County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 30.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 31st 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.
Most of Henry County's expected losses come from heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 9.00 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 5.44 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $835K in expected annual loss and about 3.99 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 20K.
Beyond physical exposure, Henry County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The federal record bears this out: Henry County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 7 for severe storm events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 99 Iowa counties, Henry County ranks #63 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Heat Wave | Medium | 9.00 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.44 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Medium | 3.99 / yr | $835K |
| Drought | Medium | 11.48 / yr | $804K |
| Lightning | Medium | 45.03 / yr | $368K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $3K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.34 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $41K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $183K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 12.68 / yr | $48K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.27 / yr | $52K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.95 / yr | $419K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.82 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $4K |
| 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
Henry County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (7), Flood (6), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| July 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| July 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| May 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| March 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| June 2002 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Henry County?
Henry County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 30.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 31th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Henry County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Heat Wave (Medium, $2M EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $1M EAL), Hail (Medium, $835K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Henry County compare to other Iowa counties?
Henry County ranks #63 of 99 Iowa counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Henry County had?
FEMA records 16 federal disaster declarations for Henry County since 1969, most often 7 for severe storm events and 6 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in March 2020.
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. Henry County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.