Natural hazards · Carlisle

Carlisle, IA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Carlisle comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Carlisle?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Carlisle to be higher than in 18% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding45%Tornadoes20%Strong wind8%Cold waves8%Heat waves8%Hail5%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Carlisle faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

45% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 20% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

20% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 64 years in the area

Strong wind

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Cold waves

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Heat waves

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Hail

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Carlisle flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Carlisle.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Carlisle isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Polk County.

Disasters that hit Carlisle

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Carlisle itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Carlisle.

Brought FEMA money into CarlisleDeclared for Polk County only

2024

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

1 household applied for aid

2020

Severe Storms

4 households applied for aid

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

53 households applied for aid $61K aid approved $27K to the City of Carlisle for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

36 households applied for aid $87K aid approved $186K to the City of Carlisle for repairs

Polk County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Carlisle covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Carlisle’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Carlisle. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Carlisle total about $1.2M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.

Carlisle, IA natural hazards

How exposed is Carlisle?

What Carlisle faces

Inland flooding

Tornadoes

Strong wind

Cold waves

Heat waves

Hail

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Carlisle flood?

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Storms

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

Nearby