Natural hazards · Jefferson

Jefferson, IA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Jefferson comes from tornadoes, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1993. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Jefferson?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Jefferson to be higher than in 36% of U.S. communities, mostly from tornadoes and drought.

Tornadoes26%Drought26%Cold waves22%Inland flooding15%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Jefferson faces

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

Tornadoes

26% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 10 years in the area

Drought

26% of expected damage

Recorded about 16 times a year in the area

Cold waves

22% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Recorded about 8 times a year in the area

Inland flooding

15% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 25% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

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 Jefferson flood?

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

1paid claims since 1993

$500paid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19932026

Biggest named events

Midwest Flooding: 1 claim, $500

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Greene County.

Disasters that hit Jefferson

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into JeffersonDeclared for Greene County only

2020

Severe Storms

$172K to the City of Jefferson for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm

$22K to the City of Jefferson for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

91 households applied for aid $138K aid approved $13K to the City of Jefferson for repairs

2007

Snow

$5K to the City of Jefferson for repairs

2007

Severe Winter Storms

$6K to the City of Jefferson for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $2K aid approved

Greene County has had 17 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. Jefferson 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 Jefferson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Jefferson. 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.

Jefferson, IA natural hazards

How exposed is Jefferson?

What Jefferson faces

Tornadoes

Drought

Cold waves

Inland flooding

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Jefferson flood?

Biggest named events

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Storms

Severe Winter Storm

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Snow

Severe Winter Storms

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

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