Taylor County, Iowa Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · IA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 38th
Taylor County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 38.5, 38th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Taylor County carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 38.5 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 drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at High risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 8.30 events per year; heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 7.68 events per year; and hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $339K in expected annual loss and about 5.79 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 6K.
Beyond physical exposure, Taylor County has a high 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). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Taylor County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1979, including 6 for severe storm events and 2 for biological events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 99 Iowa counties, Taylor County ranks #43 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 8.30 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 7.68 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 5.79 / yr | $339K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.42 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.40 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $1K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.23 / yr | $356K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $17K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.26 / yr | $24K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.47 / yr | $20K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.00 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Very Low | 45.62 / yr | $53K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $20K |
| 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
Taylor County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1979, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (6), Biological (2), Severe Ice Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| July 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| July 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| May 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| January 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| July 1998 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Taylor County?
Taylor County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 38.5 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 Taylor County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $3M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL), Hail (Low, $339K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Taylor County compare to other Iowa counties?
Taylor County ranks #43 of 99 Iowa counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Taylor County had?
FEMA records 14 federal disaster declarations for Taylor County since 1979, most often 6 for severe storm events and 2 for biological 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. Taylor County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.