Natural hazards · Denver

Denver, IA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Denver comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 1979. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Denver?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Denver to be higher than in 65% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding55%Tornadoes17%Strong wind7%Drought7%Hail6%Cold waves6%Everything else3%

By hazard

What Denver faces

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

Inland flooding

55% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

17% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 22 years in the area

Strong wind

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Drought

7% of expected damage

Recorded about 15 times a year in the area

Hail

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Recorded about 9 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

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 Denver flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Denver, from FEMA’s records.

16paid claims since 1979

$98Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19792026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Bremer County.

Disasters that hit Denver

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into DenverDeclared for Bremer County only

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

58 households applied for aid $38K aid approved $61K to the City of Denver for repairs

2007

Severe Winter Storms

$27K to the City of Denver for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $2K aid approved

1999

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

$44K to the City of Denver for repairs

Bremer County has had 15 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

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. Denver is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

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

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.

Denver, IA natural hazards

How exposed is Denver?

What Denver faces

Inland flooding

Tornadoes

Strong wind

Drought

Hail

Cold waves

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Denver flood?

Homes that flooded again and again

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Winter Storms

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

Nearby