Natural hazards · Leon

Leon, IA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Leon comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Leon?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Leon to be higher than in 39% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding27%Tornadoes24%Cold waves18%Heat waves14%Strong wind9%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Leon faces

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

Inland flooding

27% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 34% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

24% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 64 years in the area

Cold waves

18% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Heat waves

14% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 8 times a year in the area

Strong wind

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

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 Leon flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Leon.

Disasters that hit Leon

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into LeonDeclared for Decatur County only

2014

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

$26K to the City of Leon for repairs

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

13 households applied for aid $21K aid approved $16K to the City of Leon for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

16 households applied for aid $42K aid approved $28K to the City of Leon for repairs

2007

Severe Winter Storm

$27K to the City of Leon for repairs

Decatur County has had 12 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. Leon covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Leon’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Leon. 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 Leon total about $1.3M 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.