Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Hancock County, IA

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
19081
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: No approved plan on record.

Update: FEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions.

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Drought ($3,227,812 a year), Inland Flooding ($3,067,920) and Cold Wave ($2,153,958).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
No approved plan on record
Plan:
none
Approved:
none
Expires:
none
Update underway:
FEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions

FEMA's plan status data lists no approved plan for this jurisdiction.

What changed since your last plan

Not available. No approved plan on record, so there is no approval date to count from.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county: 16 rows, in the section "Plan clock: Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county" on the following pages.

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Plan clock

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryUpdate underwayNotes
Hancock CountyCountyNo approved plan on recordnonenonenoneFEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions
Britt cityCityNo approved plan on recordnonenonenoneFEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions
Corwith cityCityNo approved plan on recordnonenonenoneFEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions
Crystal Lake cityCityNo approved plan on recordnonenonenoneFEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions
Forest City cityCityExpired on 2024-07-22Winnebago County (FEMA plan 105329)2019-07-222024-07-22-800
Garner cityCityNo approved plan on recordnonenonenoneFEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions
Goodell cityCityNo approved plan on recordnonenonenoneFEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions
Kanawha cityCityNo approved plan on recordnonenonenoneFEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions
Klemme cityCityNo approved plan on recordnonenonenoneFEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions
Woden cityCityNo approved plan on recordnonenonenoneFEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions
Name not given in FEMA data (ID 1917880)School/School DistrictPlan 110053 approved 2025-04-09, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleKeokuk County (FEMA plan 110053), pending adoption here2025-04-09 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2030-04-08 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Algona Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictPlan 110130 approved 2024-08-28, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleKossuth County (FEMA plan 110130), pending adoption here2024-08-28 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-08-27 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictExpired on 2025-01-08Wright County (FEMA plan 105994)2020-01-082025-01-08-630
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictNo approved plan on recordnonenonenoneFEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions
West Fork Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictPlan 109453 approved 2024-02-01, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleCerro Gordo County (FEMA plan 109453), pending adoption here2024-02-01 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-01-31 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
West Hancock Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictNo approved plan on recordnonenonenoneFEMA tracker shows a plan awaiting revisions

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1DroughtRelatively HighRelatively Highn/a$3,227,812n/a$3,227,81226
2Inland FloodingVery LowVery Low$2,859,011$207,787$1,122$3,067,92042
3Cold WaveRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$2,477$1,267,880$883,601$2,153,95836Includes 10 Frost/Freeze records (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
4TornadoRelatively LowRelatively Low$1,291,400$17,138$187,679$1,496,21610
5HailRelatively LowRelatively Low$98,343$255,251$152,923$506,51795
6Strong WindRelatively LowRelatively Low$250,936$48,029$148,595$447,560133Includes 46 High Wind records (a NOAA non-thunderstorm wind type, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
7Winter WeatherRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$40,207$1,025$94,453$135,68696
8LightningVery LowVery Low$8,119n/a$61,028$69,1472
9Ice StormVery LowRelatively Low$26,599n/a$1,130$27,72911
10Heat WaveVery LowVery Low$7,098$6$10,514$17,6184
11EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$11,455n/a$2,277$13,732Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
12WildfireVery LowVery Low$2,198$98$185$2,4810No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
13LandslideVery LowVery Low$12n/a$161$1730No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14HurricaneNo RatingNo Expected Annual Losses$0$0$0$00No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local wildfire and landslide records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 2702 (Very Low, 15.7); tract 2701 (Very Low, 14.8); tract 2703 (Very Low, 12.5)
Hurricaneno tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Landslidetract 2702 (Very Low, 80.6); tract 2701 (Very Low, 70.4); tract 2703 (Very Low, 69.6)
Tornadotract 2702 (Relatively High, 92.4); tract 2701 (Relatively High, 90.6); tract 2703 (Relatively High, 87.6)
Wildfiretract 2701 (Very Low, 68.0); tract 2702 (Very Low, 61.7); tract 2704 (Very Low, 56.4)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 2702 is Census Tract 2702). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill26 records, 1996 to 2025 (26 zone-level)1 day to 4 days (median 2 days); 22 with a recorded value4 consecutive days, 2024-01-13 to 2024-01-16, zone-levelCold/Wind Chill, 1999-09-21, property not reported; $294,117.65 crops, reported for the zone (1999 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).Wind chill: in event narratives only (local data needed). Cold/Wind Chill records from May to September (a frost night, not a cold wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage10 records, 1996 to 2019 (10 zone-level)Frost/Freeze, 2011-09-15, $2,700,000 crop damage (2011 dollars); NWS zone IAZ016Countywide (zone-level records).Temperature: in event narratives only (local data needed).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)26 records, 2001 to 2024 (26 zone-level)8 days to 246 days (median 54.5 days); 8 with a recorded value246 days (about 8.1 months), 2023-08-22 to 2024-04-23, a run of 9 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelDrought, 2012-07-01, $0 property; $45,000,000 crops, reported for the zone (2012 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)114 records, 1958 to 20250.75 in to 5.5 in (median 1 in); 114 with a recorded value5.5 in hail, 2004-08-26Hail, 1997-06-15, $2,000 property; $160,000 crops (1997 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Kanawha city (17 records), Garner city (16 records), Britt city (12 records), Corwith city (12 records), Goodell city (7 records), Crystal Lake city (6 records), Klemme city (6 records), Woden city (6 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)4 records, 2001 to 2019 (4 zone-level)1 day to 14 days (median 2.5 days); 4 with a recorded value14 consecutive days, 2011-07-15 to 2011-07-28, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Heat index: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)11 records, 1996 to 2013 (11 zone-level)Ice Storm, 2013-01-27, $50,000 property; $0 crops (2013 dollars); NWS zone IAZ016Countywide (zone-level records).Ice thickness: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)42 records, 1997 to 2024 (29 zone-level)Flood, 2010-06-12, $0 property; $20,000,000 crops (2010 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Woden city (5 records), Britt city (3 records), Goodell city (2 records), Corwith city (1 record), Garner city (1 record), Kanawha city (1 record). Zone-level records (29) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0Physical measure: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)2 records, 1998 to 2006Lightning, 2006-06-20, $30,000 property; crops not reported (2006 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Britt city (1 record), Garner city (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties; physical measure in event narratives only (local data needed).
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)46 records, 1996 to 2025 (46 zone-level)35 kt (40 mph) to 62 kt (71 mph) (median 50 kt (58 mph)); 44 with a recorded value62 kt (71 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2010-05-10; NWS zone IAZ016High Wind, 1998-11-10, $300,000 property; $5,100 crops, reported for the zone (1998 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)119 records, 1956 to 202550 kt (58 mph) to 87 kt (100 mph) (median 55 kt (63 mph)); 104 with a recorded value87 kt (100 mph), measurement type not recorded, Thunderstorm Wind, 1991-04-26, 16 direct injuriesThunderstorm Wind, 1998-06-23, $200,000 property; $40,000 crops (1998 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Garner city (24 records), Britt city (19 records), Kanawha city (11 records), Corwith city (7 records), Goodell city (4 records), Klemme city (4 records), Crystal Lake city (1 record), Woden city (1 record).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)28 records, 1951 to 2025F/EF0 to F/EF4 (median F/EF1); 27 with a recorded valueF4 tornado, 1953-05-10, 6.4 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 33 yd wide, $250,000 property; crops not recorded (1953 dollars), 3 direct injuriesTornado, 1984-06-07, $2,500,000 property; crops not recorded (1984 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Britt city (3 records), Kanawha city (3 records), Crystal Lake city (2 records), Corwith city (1 record), Garner city (1 record), Klemme city (1 record).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0Acres burned: in event narratives only (local data needed).
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)96 records, 1996 to 2025 (96 zone-level)Winter Storm, 2007-02-24, $250,000 property; $0 crops (2007 dollars); NWS zone IAZ016Countywide (zone-level records).Snow depth: in event narratives only (local data needed).

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records whose zone no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 15 declarations covering 12 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

No approved plan on record, so there is no approval date to count from.

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2024-05-242024-05-20DR-4784-IAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding; Tornado$172,405.85within last 5 years
2022-02-232021-12-15DR-4642-IAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesStrong Wind; Tornadono Public Assistance recordedwithin last 5 years
2020-03-232020-01-20DR-4483-IAMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not countednone placed in this county by FEMA's record; $326,644.22 for this declaration is not placed in any county (see the state page)
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3480-IAEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4483
2019-03-232019-03-12DR-4421-IAMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Flooding$292,887.95
2018-08-202018-06-06DR-4386-IAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingInland Flooding; Strong Wind; Tornado$125,380.54
2014-07-242014-06-14DR-4184-IAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Strong Wind, Tornado$192,259.86
2008-05-272008-05-25DR-1763-IAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding; Tornado$392,426.28
2007-03-302007-02-28EM-3275-IAEmergencySnowWinter Weather$45,308.91
2005-09-102005-08-29EM-3239-IAEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2004-05-252004-05-19DR-1518-IAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding; Tornado$183,631.71
1998-07-021998-06-13DR-1230-IAMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: TornadoPA not declared for this county
1993-07-091993-04-13DR-996-IAMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1991-12-261991-10-31DR-928-IAMajor disasterIce StormIce Stormno Public Assistance recorded
1991-07-121991-06-01DR-911-IAMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland FloodingPA not declared for this county

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1962-09-051962-09-05DR-133-IAMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1961-03-311961-03-31DR-111-IAMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1958-07-051958-07-05DR-86-IAMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding
1954-06-231954-06-23DR-17-IAMajor disasterFloodInland Flooding
1953-06-111953-06-11DR-8-IAMajor disasterFloodInland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

Public Assistance not placed in any Iowa county: 11 rows, $7,881,708.52; listed on the Iowa state page.

Source: 3

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Cold Wave36501996 to 2026-06-30Includes 10 Frost/Freeze records.
Drought261601996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail1142601955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave4001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane0001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Ice Storm11011996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding42291996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning2001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind1652031955 to 2026-06-30Includes 46 High Wind records.
Tornado28371950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire0001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather961111996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2024-01-13Extreme Cold/Wind Chill$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2024 dollars)0, 0NWS zone IAZ016 (HANCOCK), zone-levelwithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2023-08-22Drought$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2023 dollars)0, 0NWS zone IAZ016 (HANCOCK), zone-levelwithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Drought
2015-01-08Blizzard$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2015 dollars)1, 1NWS zone IAZ016 (HANCOCK), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
2011-09-15Frost/Freeze$0 property; $2,700,000 crops, reported for the zone (2011 dollars)0, 0NWS zone IAZ016 (HANCOCK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Frost/Freeze
2010-06-12Flood$0 property; $20,000,000 crops (2010 dollars)0, 0WODEN to CORWITHB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2010-05-10High Wind62 kt (71 mph) measured gust$30,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2010 dollars)0, 0NWS zone IAZ016 (HANCOCK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2007-02-24Winter Storm$250,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2007 dollars)0, 0NWS zone IAZ016 (HANCOCK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
2006-06-20Lightning$30,000 property; crops not reported (2006 dollars)0, 0GARNERB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
2004-08-26Hail5.5 in$100,000 property; $10,000 crops (2004 dollars)0, 0KANAWHAB1-c worst recorded: Hail
1991-04-26Thunderstorm Wind87 kt (100 mph), measurement type not recordeddamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)0, 16location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded
1953-05-10TornadoF4, 6.4 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 33 yd wide$250,000 property; crops not recorded (1953 dollars)0, 3location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Tornado
1951-06-25TornadoF2, 0.8 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 500 yd widedamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)0, 8location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (524 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Cold Wave11.3event-days per yearabout 11.3 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 15 of 30 years)event-days in 15 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (50%)2142005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought18.2event-days per yearabout 18.2 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 8 of 30 years)event-days in 8 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (26.7%)5812000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.000471annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.0471%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail4.64events per yearabout 4.64 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)176.2 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave3.47event-days per yearabout 3.47 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 4 of 30 years)event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)602005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0events per yearnone modeledUnlikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)01851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm0.581event-days per yearabout 0.581 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 10 of 30 years)event-days in 10 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (33.3%)391946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding1.39event-days per yearabout 1.39 days per yearLikely (from Storm Events: 14 of 30 years)event-days in 14 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (46.7%)391996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.065events per year (modeled)about 1 in 15 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning41.7days per year with a strikeabout 41.7 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind3.82events per yearabout 3.82 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)1461986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.512events per yearabout 0.51 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.0000575annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.00575%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather19.6event-days per yearabout 19.6 days per yearHighly likely (from Storm Events: 30 of 30 years)event-days in 30 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (100%)3722005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 202559301.97
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20258300.267
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 202580302.67
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20257300.233
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20250300
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20259300.3
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20250300
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20251300.0333

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Cold Wave4 of 495.895.896.1Very High 4
Drought4 of 498.499.099.5Relatively High 4
Earthquake4 of 411.913.715.7Very Low 4
Hail4 of 492.592.693.5Relatively High 4
Heat Wave4 of 44.45.26.4Very Low 4
Hurricane0 of 4No Rating 4
Ice Storm4 of 455.258.164.2Relatively Low 4
Inland Flooding4 of 444.960.875.1Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 1
Landslide4 of 467.070.080.6Very Low 4
Lightning4 of 454.561.071.8Relatively Moderate 4
Strong Wind4 of 490.192.193.0Relatively High 4
Tornado4 of 486.189.192.4Relatively High 4
Wildfire4 of 452.459.168.0Very Low 4
Winter Weather4 of 495.296.597.7Very High 3, Relatively High 1

Cold Wave: Agriculture is 59% of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Hail: Agriculture is 50% of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its plan
Hancock CountyCountyNo approved plan on recordFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$187.500 total; no approved plan
Britt cityCityNo approved plan on recordFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$12,940.5738 total; no approved plan
Corwith cityCityNo approved plan on recordFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$153,275.9221 total; no approved plan
Crystal Lake cityCityNo approved plan on recordFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded9 total; no approved plan
Forest City cityCityExpired on 2024-07-22FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 1no Public Assistance recorded0 total; 0 since its plan
Garner cityCityNo approved plan on recordFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$85,619.1843 total; no approved plan
Goodell cityCityNo approved plan on recordFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$6,393.6013 total; no approved plan
Kanawha cityCityNo approved plan on recordFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$49,157.7732 total; no approved plan
Klemme cityCityNo approved plan on recordFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$74,260.9011 total; no approved plan
Woden cityCityNo approved plan on recordFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded12 total; no approved plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

School districts and special districts get a plan clock row only.

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

No approved plan on record, so there is no approval date to count from.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since plancounty-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Cold Wave$4,343,289,719$544,145,42910,795$2,477$1,267,880$883,601under 0.0001%
Droughtn/a$199,105,478n/an/a$3,227,812n/a1.62% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$7,991,631,205n/a10,795$11,455n/a$2,2770.000143%
Hail$4,343,289,719$544,145,42910,795$98,343$255,251$152,9230.00226%
Heat Wave$4,343,289,719$544,145,42910,795$7,098$6$10,5140.000163%
Hurricane$4,343,289,719$544,145,42910,795$0$0$00%
Ice Storm$4,343,289,719n/a10,795$26,599n/a$1,1300.000612%
Inland Flooding$4,339,137,357$51,082,31379$2,859,011$207,787$1,122n/a (see note)NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$11,805,868n/a24$12n/a$1610.000102%
Lightning$4,343,289,719n/a10,795$8,119n/a$61,0280.000187%
Strong Wind$4,343,289,719$544,145,42910,795$250,936$48,029$148,5950.00578%
Tornado$4,343,289,719$544,145,42910,795$1,291,400$17,138$187,6790.0297%
Wildfire$1,323,455,340$115,901,0443,201$2,198$98$1850.000166%
Winter Weather$4,343,289,719$544,145,42910,795$40,207$1,025$94,4530.000926%

Totals since the plan: not available. No approved plan on record, so there is no approval date to count from.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population10,795
Building value (total, not at risk)$4,343,289,719
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$544,145,429
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Very Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$9,622,882
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$1,543,668
Social vulnerability ratingVery Low
Community resilience ratingVery High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition1Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total0010100
of which: Forest City city0010100
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file0010100

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Hancock County1908730000000
Britt city1905580000000
Corwith city1904070000000
Crystal Lake city1907240000000
Forest City city1902830010100
Garner city1905810000000
Goodell city1907330000000
Kanawha city1904080000000
Klemme city1904090000000
Woden city1904100000000

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential0010100
2 to 4 unit residential0000000
other residential0000000
non-residential0000000
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 1 property is NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment, organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B. Each section heading names the item its tables support; the plan and FEMA's review decide whether the item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Hancock County, IA: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 19081). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/ia/19081/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: [email protected]

Hazard Plain release 2026-10. As of 2026-09-30; Storm Events data through 2026-06-30. Automated baseline.