Ida County, Iowa Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 18th
Ida County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 18.4, 18th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Ida County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 18.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 18th 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 hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Medium risk — $970K in expected annual loss and about 5.73 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $866K in expected annual loss and about 11.00 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.34 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 7K.
Beyond physical exposure, Ida County has a low 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.
History supports the rating: Ida County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 9 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, Ida County ranks #89 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | Medium | 5.73 / yr | $970K |
| Drought | Medium | 11.00 / yr | $866K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.34 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.12 / yr | $726 |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.79 / yr | $52K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 7.16 / yr | $613K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.20 / yr | $371K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 14.74 / yr | $36K |
| Lightning | Low | 41.99 / yr | $102K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 5.74 / yr | $96K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.71 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| 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
Ida County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (9), 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 |
| August 2014 | 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 |
| May 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| July 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| March 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| February 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Ida County?
Ida County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 18.4 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 18th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Ida County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Medium, $970K EAL), Drought (Medium, $866K EAL), Tornado (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Ida County compare to other Iowa counties?
Ida County ranks #89 of 99 Iowa counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Ida County had?
FEMA records 20 federal disaster declarations for Ida County since 1965, most often 9 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. Ida County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.