Palo Alto County
Iowa — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 15th
Palo Alto County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 15.5, 15th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 16.30 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Medium | 4.85 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 11.37 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 40.80 / yr | $512K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 18.21 / yr | $102K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.46 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.76 / yr | $38K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.68 / yr | $334K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $117 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.95 / yr | $29K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.86 / yr | $2M |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Palo Alto County?
Palo Alto County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 15.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 15th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Palo Alto County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $2M EAL), Hail (Medium, $1M EAL), Cold Wave (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Palo Alto County compare to other Iowa counties?
Palo Alto County ranks #93 of 99 Iowa counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
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. Palo Alto County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.