Natural hazards · Emerson

Emerson, IA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Emerson comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1987. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Emerson?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Emerson to be higher than in 66% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding39%Tornadoes20%Hail12%Drought12%Cold waves7%Strong wind5%Everything else5%

By hazard

What Emerson faces

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

Inland flooding

39% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

20% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Hail

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Drought

12% of expected damage

Recorded about 8 times a year in the area

Cold waves

7% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Strong wind

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

Ice stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Emerson flood?

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

9paid claims since 1987

$91Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19872026

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. Emerson isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Mills County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

3flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Emerson

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into EmersonDeclared for Mills County only

2024

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

1 household applied for aid

2019

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $750 aid approved

2014

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$7K to the City of Emerson for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

16 households applied for aid $35K aid approved $14K to the City of Emerson for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

24 households applied for aid $17K aid approved $3K to the City of Emerson for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $11K aid approved

1999

Severe Storms and Flooding

$2K to the City of Emerson for repairs

Mills County has had 18 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. Emerson 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 Emerson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Emerson. 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.

Emerson, IA natural hazards

How exposed is Emerson?

What Emerson faces

Inland flooding

Tornadoes

Hail

Drought

Cold waves

Strong wind

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Emerson flood?

Homes that flooded again and again

What’s been done with FEMA grants

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Severe Storms and Flooding

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Storms and Flooding

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

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