Fayette County, Iowa: hazard risk
FEMA rates Fayette County's overall risk Relatively Low (score 50.9 of 100, higher than 50% of rated U.S. counties). Its storm record holds 634 events since 1950.
FEMA's rating for each hazard
These are FEMA's county-wide model ratings and this county's storm record. They are not an assessment of any property, address or building, and not insurance advice: a property's risk depends on its own elevation, construction and location.
FEMA gives each hazard its own rating, and a rating does not follow the score from one hazard to the next: a hazard with a higher score can carry a lower rating than another. The table sorts by FEMA's rating, then by score (0 to 100, the county against every other county for that hazard).
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 86.3 | $1.2M |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 82.1 | $894K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 76.0 | $1.0M |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 71.5 | $2.4M |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 61.8 | $87K |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 68.1 | $4K |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | 59.2 | $7.9M |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 56.9 | $1.1M |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 40.3 | $210K |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 33.7 | $35K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 21.7 | $67K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 19.1 | $24K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 17.4 | $4K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 14.5 | $4K |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. A model of future loss, not a count of past events. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
What the record holds
| Hazard | Records | Deaths | Damage | Rank in state | Rank in U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 174 | 0 | $8.6M | 58th of 99 | 1788th of 3,080 |
| Hail | 141 | 0 | $14M | 84th of 99 | 1455th of 3,080 |
| Winter storms | 104 | 2 | $530K | 69th of 99 | 1065th of 3,077 |
| Floods | 72 | 0 | $52M | 72nd of 99 | 1144th of 3,080 |
| Tornadoes | 30 | 6 | $266M | 85th of 99 | 1392nd of 3,080 |
| Extreme cold | 28 | 0 | – | 79th of 99 | 678th of 3,076 |
| Drought | 23 | 0 | – | 73rd of 99 | 1304th of 3,063 |
| Heavy rain | 19 | 0 | – | 54th of 99 | 448th of 3,080 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 0 | $420K | 84th of 99 | 1647th of 3,080 |
| Heat | 13 | 0 | $35K | 27th of 99 | 1060th of 3,076 |
| Lightning | 2 | 0 | $9K | 65th of 99 | 1678th of 3,080 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026-06-30; damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.
The full Fayette County record: every hazard by year and month, the deadliest events and FEMA's declarations.