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Natural hazards · Independence

Independence, IA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Independence comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 250 claims here since 1979. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Independence?

78
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Independence to be higher than in 78% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding74%Tornadoes9%Strong wind6%Everything else11%
By hazard

What Independence faces

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

Inland flooding

74% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

9% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Strong wind

6% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat 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 Independence flood?

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

250paid claims since 1979
$2.3Mpaid to owners
23homes flooded more than once
19792026

Biggest named events

  • Storm: 14 claims, $50K
  • Midwest Flooding: 10 claims, $39K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Independence isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Buchanan County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

64flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
1flood-prone homes bought out and moved
1storm safe rooms built
Disasters that hit Independence

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into IndependenceDeclared for Buchanan County only
2018

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

$3K to the City of Independence for repairs
2017

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

$9K to the City of Independence for repairs
2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

$28K to the City of Independence for repairs
2013

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$47K to the City of Independence for repairs
2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

$14K to the City of Independence for repairs
2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

61 households applied for aid $56K aid approved $158K to the City of Independence for repairs
2007

Severe Winter Storms

$6K to the City of Independence for repairs
2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

111 households applied for aid $185K aid approved
1999

Severe Storms and Flooding

$22K to the City of Independence for repairs
1999

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

$247K to the City of Independence for repairs
Buchanan County has had 21 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. Independence covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Independence’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Independence. 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 Independence total about $4.2M 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.

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