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Natural hazards · Humboldt

Humboldt, IA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Humboldt comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1978. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Humboldt?

60
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Humboldt to be higher than in 60% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding42%Tornadoes22%Cold waves18%Strong wind6%Hail6%Everything else6%
By hazard

What Humboldt faces

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

Inland flooding

42% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

22% of expected damage
Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Cold waves

18% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places
Recorded about 10 times a year in the area

Strong wind

6% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Hail

6% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

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 Humboldt flood?

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

29paid claims since 1978
$231Kpaid to owners
4homes flooded more than once
19782026

Biggest named events

  • Tropical Storm Erin: 8 claims, $56K
  • Storm: 3 claims, $11K
  • Severe flooding: 1 claim, $592

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. Humboldt isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Humboldt County.
Disasters that hit Humboldt

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into HumboldtDeclared for Humboldt County only
2024

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

47 households applied for aid $236K aid approved $161K to the City of Humboldt for repairs
2019

Severe Storms and Flooding

$1.9M to the City of Humboldt for repairs
2014

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

$82K to the City of Humboldt for repairs
2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

37 households applied for aid $19K aid approved $185K to the City of Humboldt for repairs
2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

64 households applied for aid $96K aid approved $88K to the City of Humboldt for repairs
2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$54K to the City of Humboldt for repairs
2007

Snow

$7K to the City of Humboldt for repairs
2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

3 households applied for aid
2001

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

$4K to the City of Humboldt for repairs
Humboldt County has had 20 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. Humboldt covers 1 census tract, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Humboldt’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Humboldt. 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 Humboldt total about $1.7M 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.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01
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