Iowa natural disasters & FEMA declarations
IA · 28th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Iowa has had 78 federally declared disasters since 1953, the 28th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (33 declarations, about 42% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), on May 21, 2025.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Iowa, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 33 | 42% |
| Flood | 30 | 38% |
| Tornado | 5 | 6% |
| Biological | 3 | 4% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 2 | 3% |
| Snowstorm | 2 | 3% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 72 |
| Emergency (EM) | 6 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Iowa's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 7 |
| 1970s | 7 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 13 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 23 |
| 2020s | 11 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | DR-4870-IA |
| Jun 24, 2024 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | DR-4796-IA |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4784-IA |
| May 14, 2024 | Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Tornado | DR-4779-IA |
| Aug 25, 2023 | Flooding | Flood | DR-4732-IA |
| Feb 23, 2022 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | DR-4642-IA |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Iowa
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Iowa in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Iowa had?
Iowa has had 78 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1953, the 28th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Iowa?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Iowa is "Severe Storm", with 33 declarations — about 42% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Iowa?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Iowa in this snapshot was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), declared May 21, 2025.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18