Hazard Plain Preview: automated baseline

Polk County, IA

Risk-assessment baseline packet

Unit
County area 19153
Release
2026-10
As of
2026-09-28
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.

A starting point for the plan's risk assessment (FEMA Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B). It does not replace local data or FEMA review. Section headings say which FEMA review item each table supports; whether an item is satisfied is decided by the plan and its reviewers.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-28. Independent product; not a FEMA document.

Plan clock

Status
Approved, expires 2029-10-29
Plan
Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)
Approved
2024-10-30
Expires
2029-10-29
As of
2026-09-28
Days
1,127 days to expiry

What changed since your last plan (approved 2024-10-30)

New federal declarations
DR-4942-IA (1 declaration row; 1 counted incident)
Storm Events records since approval
40 (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now
FMA RL 4, SRL 10 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 67
Repeat-flood change
First release: no prior release to compare.

Sources

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county: 34 rows, in the section "Plan clock: Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county" after these cover 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

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryUpdate underwayNotes
Polk CountyCountyApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2024-12-03
Alleman cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-03-13
Altoona cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-01-24
Ankeny cityCityPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligiblePolk County (FEMA plan 110028), pending adoption here2024-10-30 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-10-29 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Bondurant cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-02-24
Carlisle cityCityApproved, expires 2027-12-21Warren County (FEMA plan 108645)2022-12-222027-12-21449member approved 2023-12-19
Clive cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127
Des Moines cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-02-26
Elkhart cityCityPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligiblePolk County (FEMA plan 110028), pending adoption here2024-10-30 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-10-29 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Grimes cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-02-24
Johnston cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-01-24
Mitchellville cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-01-24
Pleasant Hill cityCityPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligiblePolk County (FEMA plan 110028), pending adoption here2024-10-30 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-10-29 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Polk City cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-01-21
Runnells cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-03-13
Saylorville CDPTownshipPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligiblePolk County (FEMA plan 110028), pending adoption here2024-10-30 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-10-29 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Sheldahl cityCityApproved, expires 2030-01-07Story County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 110405)2025-01-082030-01-071,197member approved 2025-04-07
Urbandale cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2026-05-15
West Des Moines cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-03-13
Windsor Heights cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-02-13
Ankeny Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligiblePolk County (FEMA plan 110028), pending adoption here2024-10-30 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-10-29 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Bondurant-Farrar Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligiblePolk County (FEMA plan 110028), pending adoption here2024-10-30 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-10-29 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Dallas Center-Grimes Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictApproved, expires 2028-01-26Dallas County (FEMA plan 108726)2023-01-272028-01-26485FEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan. member approved 2023-02-27
Des Moines Independent Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligiblePolk County (FEMA plan 110028), pending adoption here2024-10-30 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-10-29 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Johnston Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligiblePolk County (FEMA plan 110028), pending adoption here2024-10-30 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-10-29 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Madrid Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictExpired on 2026-09-09Boone County HM Plan Update (FEMA plan 107653)2021-09-092026-09-09-19
North Polk Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligiblePolk County (FEMA plan 110028), pending adoption here2024-10-30 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-10-29 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
PCM Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictApproved, expires 2028-03-07Jasper County (FEMA plan 108800)2023-03-082028-03-07526member approved 2023-03-06
Southeast Polk Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-03-10
Urbandale Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-02-13
West Des Moines Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-03-13
Woodward-Granger Community School DistrictSchool/School DistrictApproved, expires 2028-01-26Dallas County (FEMA plan 108726)2023-01-272028-01-26485member approved 2023-02-27
Deleware TownshipTownshipPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligiblePolk County (FEMA plan 110028), pending adoption here2024-10-30 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2029-10-29 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Des Moines Water WorksWater/Sewer AuthorityApproved, expires 2029-10-29Polk County (FEMA plan 110028)2024-10-302029-10-291,127member approved 2025-02-13

Source

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

Supports B1-a: hazards

Hazards NRI does not cover: check locally

  • 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)

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearEAL population equivalencestatistical value of life and injury, $13.7M per life, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records since 1996countEvidence for an omissionNRI Not Applicable, no declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996Storm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively ModerateRelatively High$58,745,003$1,046,826$798,457$60,590,287295
2TornadoRelatively HighRelatively High$17,608,077$6,890$13,333,103$30,948,07036
3Strong WindVery HighVery High$7,538,045$104,554$3,849,344$11,491,943658Includes 38 High Wind records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
4Heat WaveRelatively HighRelatively High$7,098$3$10,703,503$10,710,6036
5Cold WaveRelatively HighRelatively High$36,418$370,654$9,362,918$9,769,98928Includes 9 Frost/Freeze records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
6HailRelatively HighRelatively High$1,754,918$83,374$5,553,241$7,391,533583
7DroughtRelatively HighRelatively High$3,074,289$3,074,28932
8Ice StormRelatively HighRelatively High$1,198,531$160,658$1,359,18911
9EarthquakeRelatively LowRelatively Low$572,541$247,340$819,880Not in Storm Events. Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.
10LightningRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$120,762$694,871$815,63442
11Winter WeatherRelatively HighRelatively High$175,380$194$330,456$506,03076
12WildfireVery LowRelatively Low$77,413$57$13,281$90,7510No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30). Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.
13HurricaneVery LowVery Low$13,070$1,219under $1$14,2890No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14LandslideRelatively LowVery Low$2,365$3,774$6,1390No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30). Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.
AvalancheNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates avalanche Not Applicable for this county, and no federal declaration for this county names it.No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
Coastal FloodingNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates coastal flooding Not Applicable for this county, and no federal declaration for this county names it.No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
TsunamiNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates tsunami Not Applicable for this county, and no federal declaration for this county names it.No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30). Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.
Volcanic ActivityNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates volcanic activity Not Applicable for this county, and no federal declaration for this county names it.No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30). Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.

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

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, 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)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Check your state hazard mitigation plan's hazard list for this county; explain any hazard you drop.

Supports B1-b: location

Where each hazard occurs

HazardLocationCensus tracts ratedrated of all tracts
AvalancheCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.0 of 112
Coastal FloodingCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.0 of 112
Cold WaveAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.112 of 112
DroughtAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.43 of 112
EarthquakeCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.112 of 112
HailAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.112 of 112
Heat WaveAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.112 of 112
HurricaneCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.112 of 112
Ice StormAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.112 of 112
Inland FloodingThe 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.112 of 112
LandslideCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.112 of 112
LightningAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.112 of 112
Strong WindAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.112 of 112
TornadoCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.112 of 112
TsunamiCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.0 of 112
Volcanic ActivityCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.0 of 112
WildfireCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.107 of 112
Winter WeatherAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.112 of 112

Source

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, 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)

Supports B1-c: extent

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

HazardScaleRecordscount, yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to membersNote
Avalanchenone (count and damage)0Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tidenone in data (FIRM for depth)0Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill19, 1996 to 2025 (19 zone-level)1 day to 4 days (median 2 days); 16 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)Zone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Wind chill: in event narratives only; local data required. 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 Cold Wave definition)crop damage9, 1996 to 2019 (9 zone-level)Frost/Freeze, 2009-10-10, $2,500,000 crop damage, reported for the zone (2009 dollars); NWS zone IAZ060 (POLK), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Temperature: in event narratives only; local data required.
DroughtUS Drought Monitor D-scale32, 1999 to 2024 (32 zone-level)11 days to 253 days (median 36 days); 11 with a recorded value253 days (about 8.3 months), 2023-09-05 to 2024-05-14, 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)Zone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.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)0No Storm Events record; local data required (e.g., USGS).
Hailhail size (inches)670, 1956 to 20250.52 in to 3.25 in (median 1 in); 669 with a recorded value3.25 in hail, 2021-07-09Hail, 2001-06-12, $9,500,000 property; $10,000 crops (2001 dollars)Event records naming member places: Des Moines city (97 records), Ankeny city (48 records), West Des Moines city (34 records), Urbandale city (32 records), Grimes city (27 records), Windsor Heights city (27 records), Johnston city (26 records), Altoona city (18 records), Polk City city (18 records), Clive city (14 records); and 7 more member places (see the XLSX file).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (narratives)6, 2001 to 2019 (6 zone-level)1 day to 14 days (median 2 days); 6 with a recorded value14 consecutive days, 2011-07-15 to 2011-07-28, zone-levelZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Heat index: in event narratives only; local data required.
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's event type and category, so a Hurricane (Typhoon) record, especially an inland or remnant one, does not by itself mean hurricane-force winds here; read the damage and wind columns.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz (local data)11, 1996 to 2017 (11 zone-level)Ice Storm, 2010-01-20, $300,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2010 dollars); NWS zone IAZ060 (POLK), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Ice thickness: in event narratives only; local data required.
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (FIRM for depth)295, 1996 to 2025 (27 zone-level)Flood, 2008-06-01, $100,000 property; $50,000,000 crops (2008 dollars)Event records naming member places: Des Moines city (118 records), West Des Moines city (26 records), Ankeny city (18 records), Urbandale city (10 records), Windsor Heights city (8 records), Clive city (7 records), Elkhart city (7 records), Grimes city (7 records), Johnston city (7 records), Pleasant Hill city (6 records); and 7 more member places (see the XLSX file). Zone-level records (27) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage can be $0 or blank even for a major flood, so the worst record here may not be the worst flood; compare FEMA Public Assistance by declaration in B1-d.
Debris Flownone (count and damage)0Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)42, 1998 to 2024Lightning, 2022-05-08, $400,000 property; $0 crops (2022 dollars)Event records naming member places: Johnston city (9 records), Urbandale city (4 records), Ankeny city (3 records), Grimes city (3 records), Bondurant city (2 records), Des Moines city (2 records), West Des Moines city (2 records), Elkhart city (1 record), Saylorville CDP (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties; physical measure in event narratives only; local data required.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)38, 1996 to 2025 (38 zone-level)35 kt (40 mph) to 64 kt (74 mph) (median 52 kt (60 mph)); 36 with a recorded value64 kt (74 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2021-12-15; NWS zone IAZ060 (POLK), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesHigh Wind, 1998-11-10, $1,300,000 property; $5,100 crops, reported for the zone (1998 dollars)Zone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)730, 1955 to 202545 kt (52 mph) to 104 kt (120 mph) (median 55 kt (63 mph)); 691 with a recorded value104 kt (120 mph), measurement type not recorded, Thunderstorm Wind, 1998-06-29; same speed and measurement basis also recorded on 1998-06-29Thunderstorm Wind, 1998-06-29, $40,000,000 property; crops not reported (1998 dollars)Event records naming member places: Des Moines city (77 records), Ankeny city (71 records), Urbandale city (43 records), Polk City city (32 records), Altoona city (29 records), Windsor Heights city (29 records), West Des Moines city (24 records), Grimes city (17 records), Johnston city (17 records), Bondurant city (16 records); and 6 more member places (see the XLSX file).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (F before Feb 2007)68, 1958 to 2024F/EF0 to F/EF4 (median between F/EF0 and F/EF1); 62 with a recorded valueF4 tornado, 1974-06-18, 15.3 mi path length (records before 1996 may include the whole path; rating and listing come from the county where the tornado began), 400 yd wide, $25,000,000 property; crops not recorded (1974 dollars), 2 direct deaths, 50 direct injuriesTornado, 2022-03-05, $75,000,000 property; $0 crops (2022 dollars)Event records naming member places: Des Moines city (6 records), Bondurant city (5 records), Runnells city (4 records), Elkhart city (3 records), Alleman city (2 records), Grimes city (2 records), Johnston city (2 records), Saylorville CDP (2 records), West Des Moines city (2 records), Altoona city (1 record); and 3 more member places (see the XLSX file).From 1996 on, tornado records are per-county segments and length is the path length within this county (NWS Instruction 10-1605); records before 1996 may give the whole path length, including the path outside this county, and before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with the whole path's rating; counties farther along the path may not list it. Length is not used to rank tornadoes.
Tsunaminone (count and damage)0Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Volcanic Ash, Volcanic AshfallVolcanic Explosivity Index (local data)0Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0Acres burned: in event narratives only; local data required.
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall local)76, 1996 to 2026 (76 zone-level)Heavy Snow, 1997-10-26, $3,640,000 property; $2,600,000 crops, reported for the zone (1997 dollars); NWS zone IAZ060 (POLK), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Snow depth: in event narratives only; local data required.

Where a hazard names more than 10 member places, the table lists the 10 with the most records; every place is in the XLSX file, sheet "B1-c Extent".

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records are placed with NWS zone-county files, which exist from 2020 on; an earlier record is placed by its zone number in the nearest later file only when its zone name matches that file, records from zones NWS renumbered are placed by name or left out, and a record whose zone is in no known file is left out of every count, so counts before 2020 can be low. Some current zones are also missing from the NWS files, so recent counts can be low too.

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

Sources

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

Supports B1-d: previous occurrences

Declaration rows
21
Counted incidents
17

Federal disaster declarations for this county

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2026-09-012026-07-01DR-4942-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODINGInland Floodingnot yet in FEMA's PA summaries (they cover declarations through 2026-06-30)new since last plan; within last 5 years
2024-05-242024-05-20DR-4784-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODINGInland Flooding; Tornado$5,190,196.11during plan review, check whether your last plan included it; within last 5 years
2024-05-142024-04-26DR-4779-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOESTornadoPA not declared for this countyduring plan review, check whether your last plan included it; within last 5 years
2020-08-172020-08-10DR-4557-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMSHazard not mapped (severe storm title names no single hazard); not counted$7,081,022.68
2020-03-232020-01-20DR-4483-IAMajor disasterCOVID-19 PANDEMICNon-natural, not counted$111,952,084.48
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3480-IAEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countednone foundsame incident as DR-4483
2019-03-232019-03-12DR-4421-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODINGInland Flooding$1,385,202.84
2018-08-202018-06-06DR-4386-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODINGInland Flooding; Strong Wind; Tornado$3,841,883.06
2010-07-292010-06-01DR-1930-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND TORNADOESInland Flooding; Tornado$4,920,610.03
2008-05-272008-05-25DR-1763-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODINGInland Flooding; Tornado$10,774,870.33
2007-03-142007-02-23DR-1688-IAMajor disasterSEVERE WINTER STORMSWinter Weather$760,015.71
2005-09-102005-08-29EM-3239-IAEmergencyHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATIONHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not counted$34,283.22
2004-05-252004-05-19DR-1518-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODINGInland Flooding; Tornado$747,896.65
1998-07-021998-06-13DR-1230-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND FLOODINGInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Tornadonone found
1997-11-201997-10-26DR-1191-IAMajor disasterSEVERE SNOWSTORMSWinter Weathernone found
1993-07-091993-04-13DR-996-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS & FLOODINGInland Floodingnone found
1990-05-261990-05-18DR-868-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS & FLOODINGInland Floodingnone found
1974-06-241974-06-24DR-443-IAMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS & FLOODINGInland Floodingnone found
1969-08-141969-08-14DR-269-IAMajor disasterHEAVY RAINS & FLOODINGInland Floodingnone found
1969-04-251969-04-25DR-259-IAMajor disasterFLOODINGInland Floodingnone found
1965-04-221965-04-22DR-193-IAMajor disasterFLOODINGInland Floodingnone found

School districts and special districts in this county: $2,996,332.54 (included in the county total above). Public Assistance matched by applicant name to the school districts and special districts FEMA lists as plan members in this county. They are not shown as member blocks, so their total is listed here. These dollars are already included in the county PA column of the declarations table (the FEMA record places each applicant in this county); do not add this line to the county total.

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.

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

Statewide declarations

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardFlagsNotes
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. Listed on every county page in the state; not counted with county rows.

Source

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

Public Assistance not placed in a county in this state: 11 rows, $7,881,708.52

Disaster numberDeclaredApplicantCounty field in FEMA dataPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollarsWhy not placed
45572020-08-17The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan SocietyMinnehaha County$47,682.27county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state
44832020-03-23Gundersen Lutheran Health System, IncLa Crosse County$326,644.22county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state
44212019-03-23City of BigelowNobles County$80,835.34county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state
44212019-03-23Dairyland Power CooperativeLa Crosse County$247,337.47county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state
44212019-03-23South Dakota Dept of TransportationHughes County$3,666,245.52county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state
44212019-03-23City of Omaha Parks and Recreation Dept(The Omaha Parks and Recreation)Douglas County$379,432.23county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state
41842014-07-24South Dakota Dept of TransportationHughes County$1,245,084.61county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state
41812014-07-14Lincoln Electric SystemLancaster County$383,692.95county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state
41142013-05-06City of BigelowNobles County$5,961.43county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state
19982011-06-27Lincoln Electric SystemLancaster County$65,027.74county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state
16882007-03-14Dairyland Power CooperativeLa Crosse County$1,433,764.74county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under a county field that is not a county of this state (an Alaska school area, the former Valdez-Cordova Census Area, or another state's county), and the applicant name does not identify one place here. They are listed for the whole state and are not in any county total. Check whether any of them worked in your county.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

HazardStorm Events recordsfull periodSince plan approvalrecordsDuring plan reviewrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidentsdistinct incidentsDeclared since approvaldistinct incidentsPeriodStatement
Avalanche0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Coastal Flooding0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Cold Wave28113001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 9 Frost/Freeze records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
Drought320716001996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000No Storm Events record; local data required (e.g., USGS).
Hail67091354001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave6000001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Ice Storm11000001996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding29513101411996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning42012001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind768253274101955 to 2026-06-30Includes 38 High Wind records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
Tornado680711701950 to 2026-06-30
Tsunami0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Volcanic Activity0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather764411201996 to 2026-06-30

Sources

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

Notable Storm Events records

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDirect deaths, injuriesindirect not countedLocationFlagsWhy listed
2024-01-13Extreme Cold/Wind Chill$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2024 dollars)0, 0NWS zone IAZ060 (POLK), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesduring plan review, check whether your last plan included it; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2023-09-05Drought$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2023 dollars)0, 0NWS zone IAZ060 (POLK), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countieswithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Drought
2021-12-15High Wind64 kt (74 mph) measured gust$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2021 dollars)0, 0NWS zone IAZ060 (POLK), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countieswithin last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI Strong Wind definition)
2021-07-09Hail3.25 in$0 property; $0 crops (2021 dollars)0, 0LOVINGTONB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2018-06-30Flash Flood$1,000,000 property; $500,000 crops (2018 dollars)1, 0ELKHART to WOODLANDdeaths or injuries recorded
2011-07-15Excessive Heat$135,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2011 dollars)0, 0NWS zone IAZ060 (POLK), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2010-08-11Flash Flood$100,000 property; $25,000 crops (2010 dollars)1, 4SANTIAGOdeaths or injuries recorded
2010-01-20Ice Storm$300,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2010 dollars)0, 0NWS zone IAZ060 (POLK), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Ice Storm
2009-10-10Frost/Freeze$0 property; $2,500,000 crops, reported for the zone (2009 dollars)0, 0NWS zone IAZ060 (POLK), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Frost/Freeze (outside NRI Cold Wave definition)
2008-06-01Flood$100,000 property; $50,000,000 crops (2008 dollars)0, 0PLEASANT HILL to HERROLDB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
1998-06-29Thunderstorm Wind104 kt (120 mph), measurement type not recorded$10,000,000 property; $25,000 crops (1998 dollars)0, 0JOHNSTONB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
1974-06-18TornadoF4, 15.3 mi path length (records before 1996 may include the whole path; rating and listing come from the county where the tornado began), 400 yd wide$25,000,000 property; crops not recorded (1974 dollars)2, 50location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded

The full list is in the XLSX file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (1,996 rows).

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records are placed with NWS zone-county files, which exist from 2020 on; an earlier record is placed by its zone number in the nearest later file only when its zone name matches that file, records from zones NWS renumbered are placed by name or left out, and a record whose zone is in no known file is left out of every count, so counts before 2020 can be low. Some current zones are also missing from the NWS files, so recent counts can be low too.

Sources

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

State-declared emergencies are not in federal data. Add them from your state emergency management agency.

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

Supports B1-e: probability

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

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
Avalancheevents per year1994 to 2023 (30 years)see B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Coastal Floodingevents per year at a location (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Cold Wave6event-days per yearabout 6 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 15 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (50%)1142005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywideFrost/Freeze records are not counted in this descriptor: they record crop freezes, not cold waves.
Drought6.46event-days per yearabout 6.46 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 11 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (36.7%)2172000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywideNRI gives about 6.46 drought event-days a year here (its annualized frequency over 25.25 years; not its event count divided by the years), but Storm Events has a record in only 11 of 30 years. NRI counts from a different source that records far more events than Storm Events, so this descriptor reads much lower than NRI's frequency; read the two together.
Earthquake0.000607annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.0607%not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor not assigned: the NRI value is the chance at a location in the county, not how often the hazard affects the county, and Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
Hail6.13events per yearabout 6.13 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)233.0 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave7.32event-days per yearabout 7.32 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 5 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (16.7%)1042005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywideNRI gives about 7.32 heat wave event-days a year here (its annualized frequency over 19 years; not its event count divided by the years), but Storm Events has a record in only 5 of 30 years. NRI counts from a different source that records far more events than Storm Events, so this descriptor reads much lower than NRI's frequency; read the two together.
Hurricane0.00987events per yearabout 1 in 101 yearsUnlikelyFEMA 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 counted separately in B1-d and need not match.
Ice Storm0.932event-days per yearabout 0.932 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 9 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (30%)631946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding5.07event-days per yearabout 5.07 days per yearHighly likelyevent-days in 27 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (90%)1421996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.122events per year (modeled)about 1 in 8 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning44.3days per year with a strikeabout 44.3 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind6.01events per yearabout 6.01 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)2291986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.588events per yearabout 0.59 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Tsunamiannual probability at the most exposed location (used in place of a county value)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Volcanic Activityannual probabilitynot shownmodeledsee B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Wildfire0.000262annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.0262%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo Storm Events record of this hazard, 1996 to 2025; descriptor not assigned (the NRI value is the chance at a location in the county, not how often the hazard affects the county)
Winter Weather14.1event-days per yearabout 14.1 days per yearHighly likelyevent-days in 27 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (90%)2682005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) comes from the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025). It is not recorded events divided by years, and what it measures depends on the hazard. For most hazards it estimates how often the hazard affects this county each year: it counts events or event-days (drought, heat wave, cold wave, winter weather, ice storm and inland flooding are in days per year; lightning is the number of days per year with a recorded cloud-to-ground strike, from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center daily lightning climatology); it may count events in the surrounding area (hail, strong wind, tornado, hurricane and ice storm use a 49 km grid and buffers) and is averaged over the county's area; and some hazards use a minimum value for places with no recorded event. Earthquake, wildfire and coastal flooding are different: FEMA computes them for each census block and averages them over the county, so the value is the chance (for coastal flooding, the modeled number of floods per year) at a location in the county, which is lower than the chance that the hazard strikes somewhere in the county. Earthquake is the chance of at least minor-damage shaking (U.S. Geological Survey model); wildfire is the chance that a location burns in a large fire (U.S. Forest Service burn probability); coastal flooding comes from FEMA flood zones and NOAA high-tide flooding, so it can be above 1 where high-tide flooding is frequent. Tsunami is the value at the county's most exposed location, from recorded events and modeled return periods. For these four hazards the packet gives no "1 in N years" and takes the descriptor from Storm Events (none for earthquake) unless the value is 1 or more a year. Landslide is a U.S. Geological Survey modeled county rate spread by slope susceptibility. Volcanic activity is the chance that a volcano affecting the county erupts in a year. Drought counts only extreme and exceptional drought (D3 and D4). Source: FEMA, National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20, sections 5.2.2 (Table 5), 5.2.3, 7.4, 10.4, 16.5, 17.1, 17.3.1, 17.5, 20.3.1, 21.4, 22.4 and 6 to 23.

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, 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)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

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

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, 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)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 20253573011.9
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 202529300.967
Strong Wind (Thunderstorm Wind records)50-64 kt1996 to 20255463018.2
Strong Wind (Thunderstorm Wind records)65 kt+1996 to 202573302.43
Strong Wind (Thunderstorm Wind records)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20251300.0333
TornadoEF0-11996 to 202527300.9
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20256300.2
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20253300.1

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.

Source

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

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.

Supports B1-f: variation across the planning area

Range of census tract risk within the county

HazardTractsrated of allRisk score minNRI score, 0 to 100MedianMaxTracts by ratingNote
Avalanche0 of 112Not Applicable 112
Coastal Flooding0 of 112Not Applicable 112
Cold Wave112 of 11215.857.881.9Relatively High 5, Relatively Moderate 87, Relatively Low 19, Very Low 1National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Drought43 of 11274.385.399.3Relatively High 2, Relatively Moderate 7, Relatively Low 26, Very Low 8, No Rating 69National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range above mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is, not where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Earthquake112 of 1121.116.473.6Relatively Low 4, Very Low 108
Hail112 of 11225.483.394.6Relatively High 13, Relatively Moderate 95, Relatively Low 3, Very Low 1National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Heat Wave112 of 1121.672.692.0Relatively High 10, Relatively Moderate 86, Relatively Low 15, Very Low 1National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Hurricane112 of 11212.618.630.5Very Low 112
Ice Storm112 of 11210.565.394.5Relatively High 3, Relatively Moderate 40, Relatively Low 67, Very Low 2National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Inland Flooding112 of 1120.427.195.6Relatively High 6, Relatively Moderate 18, Relatively Low 55, Very Low 33
Landslide112 of 11213.858.090.4Relatively Low 9, Very Low 103
Lightning112 of 1120.531.859.4Relatively Moderate 6, Relatively Low 95, Very Low 11National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Strong Wind112 of 11224.787.199.4Very High 5, Relatively High 73, Relatively Moderate 33, Relatively Low 1National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Tornado112 of 11226.876.399.3Very High 6, Relatively High 58, Relatively Moderate 46, Relatively Low 1, Very Low 1
Tsunami0 of 112Not Applicable 112
Volcanic Activity0 of 112Not Applicable 112
Wildfire107 of 11220.042.685.6Relatively Low 14, Very Low 93, No Rating 5
Winter Weather112 of 11217.158.586.0Relatively High 6, Relatively Moderate 86, Relatively Low 19, Very Low 1National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.

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.

Source

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, 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)

Per-member block (Starter, confirm locally)

MemberTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance matchedfederal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since the member's planNotes
Polk CountyCountyApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 1, SRL 0; any 4$4,996,785.660; 0Includes $4,138,928.54 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4483-IA).
Alleman cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$20,121.1727; 0Includes $20,121.17 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4557-IA).
Altoona cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$290,279.1451; 3Includes $125,158.21 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4557-IA).
Ankeny cityCityPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$2,608,197.80140; no approved planIncludes $889,259.13 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4483-IA, DR-4557-IA).
Bondurant cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$379,520.9134; 2Includes $188,576.75 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4483-IA, DR-4557-IA).
Carlisle cityCityApproved, expires 2027-12-21FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0none found0; 0
Clive cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 3; any 11$442,014.1634; 0Includes $185,058.70 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4483-IA, DR-4557-IA).
Des Moines cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 2, SRL 5; any 33$13,366,687.21300; 2Includes $4,231,529.40 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4483-IA, DR-4557-IA, EM-3239-IA).
Elkhart cityCityPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$38,449.2725; no approved plan
Grimes cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$148,023.1556; 0Includes $56,634.97 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4557-IA).
Johnston cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 3$1,191,104.4361; 0Includes $177,312.53 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4483-IA, DR-4557-IA).
Mitchellville cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$124,054.9217; 0Includes $82,985.22 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4557-IA).
Pleasant Hill cityCityPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 1, SRL 0; any 2$380,992.4412; no approved planIncludes $74,985.45 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4483-IA, DR-4557-IA).
Polk City cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$276,179.6356; 0Includes $85,456.79 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4483-IA, DR-4557-IA).
Runnells cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0none found19; 0
Saylorville CDPTownshipPlan 110028 approved 2024-10-30, pending adoption here; not yet eligiblenone found16; no approved planNo NFIP community ID on this member's plan row.
Sheldahl cityCityApproved, expires 2030-01-07FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0none found0; 0
Urbandale cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$1,144,595.4789; 2Includes $223,050.12 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4557-IA).
West Des Moines cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 2; any 12$935,245.0688; 0
Windsor Heights cityCityApproved, expires 2029-10-29FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 2$326,705.3264; 1Includes $120,026.22 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4483-IA, DR-4557-IA).

Member 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 member row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

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

Sources

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-26T151157Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Supports B2-a and B2-b: assets and impacts

Local data required

County-level starter. The plan must describe impacts for each participant and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per participant 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

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearEAL population equivalencestatistical value of life and injury, $13.7M per life, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2024-10-30county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
AvalancheNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Coastal FloodingNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Cold Wave$105,449,582,424$142,793,189492,316$36,418$370,654$9,362,918under 0.0001%$0
Drought$92,280,543$3,074,2893.33% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$187,357,159,080492,401$572,541$247,3400.000306%
Hail$105,449,582,424$142,793,189492,316$1,754,918$83,374$5,553,2410.00166%$0
Heat Wave$105,449,582,424$142,793,189492,316$7,098$3$10,703,503under 0.0001%
Hurricane$105,449,582,424$142,793,189492,316$13,070$1,219under $1under 0.0001%
Ice Storm$105,437,836,806492,216$1,198,531$160,6580.00114%
Inland Flooding$105,421,104,082$17,336,1486,079$58,745,003$1,046,826$798,457n/a (see note)$20,000none found (1 declaration)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. EAL as % of exposure: n/a.
Landslide$1,231,910,3115,461$2,365$3,7740.000192%
Lightning$105,449,582,424492,316$120,762$694,8710.000115%
Strong Wind$105,449,582,424$142,793,189492,316$7,538,045$104,554$3,849,3440.00715%$93,200$0
Tornado$105,449,582,424$142,793,189492,316$17,608,077$6,890$13,333,1030.0167%
TsunamiNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Volcanic ActivityNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Wildfire$12,679,237,687$24,741,70667,219$77,413$57$13,2810.000611%
Winter Weather$105,449,582,424$142,793,189492,316$175,380$194$330,4560.000166%$0

Totals since 2024-10-30 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 33 county-coded records, 33 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $113,200; 7 zone-level records, 7 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance on counted declarations none found (1 declaration, 0 with PA).

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

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 must not be added up; the unit total counts each declaration once.

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

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, 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)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-26T151157Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

Supports B2-a: context

County context

MeasureValue
Population492,316
Building value (total, not at risk)$105,449,582,424
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$142,793,189
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Moderate
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$92,537,680
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)$45,050,946
Social vulnerability ratingVery Low
Community resilience ratingVery High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss total adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; the two parts are shown separately so the property figure is not read as including the statistical value of life.

Source

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, 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)

Supports B2-c: repetitive loss

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)4Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)10
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition61Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition5

Your state NFIP coordinator's list may use the NFIP insurance definition, so its counts can be higher.

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total41061567431
DES MOINES, CITY OF2531433014
WEST DES MOINES, CITY OF021001223
CLIVE, CITY OF03911127
PLEASANT HILL, CITY OF1020201
WINDSOR HEIGHTS, CITY OF0020202
JOHNSTON, CITY OF0030302
POLK COUNTY *1040402
State level, not in this county: county not reported0010100

Repeat-flood properties by plan member (NFIP community)

MemberNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredpropertiesNote
Polk County1909011040402
Alleman city1903040000000
Altoona city1905460000000
Ankeny city1902260000000
Bondurant city1907070000000
Carlisle city1902740000000
Clive city19048803911127
Des Moines city1902272531433014
Elkhart city1902290000000
Grimes city1902280000000
Johnston city1907450030302
Mitchellville city1906190000000
Pleasant Hill city1904891020201
Polk City city1909330000000
Runnells city1908000000000
Sheldahl city1908040000000
Urbandale city1902300000000
West Des Moines city190231021001223
Windsor Heights city1906870020202

Per-member types: XLSX sheet 'B2-c Members'.

Member 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 member row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential1240141116
2 to 4 unit residential1100210
other residential0110211
non-residential2620422114
not reported0000000

Institutional properties cannot be separated in this data: FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class, so they fall 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; OpenFEMA's fmaRl field description omits the Increased Cost of Compliance clause of 44 CFR 77.2(i). NFIP repetitive loss (FEMA insurance definition, nfipRl) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years and can drop to false when a property is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured.

Your state NFIP coordinator's list may use the NFIP insurance definition, so its counts can be higher.

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

Counts may differ from your state NFIP coordinator's list, which is the source the Handbook names.

In this county 1 property is FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 58 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Every table above lists its own sources. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-26T151157Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-28, 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 2026-09-28, 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 2026-09-28, 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 2026-09-28, 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 2026-09-28, 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

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).

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.

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). Polk County, IA: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-28; County area 19153). Preview: automated baseline. 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: to be added

Hazard Plain release 2026-10. As of 2026-09-28; Storm Events data through 2026-06-30. File hazard-plain_2026-10_IA_19153. Preview: automated baseline.