Natural hazards · Marshalltown

Marshalltown, IA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Marshalltown comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1979. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Marshalltown?

36
Low
vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding52%Tornadoes28%Strong wind10%Everything else10%
By hazard

What Marshalltown faces

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

Inland flooding

52% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 45% of U.S. places
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

28% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Strong wind

10% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places
Recorded about 7 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 Marshalltown flood?

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

12paid claims since 1979
$76Kpaid to owners
1homes flooded more than once
19792026

Biggest named events

  • Midwest Flooding: 2 claims, $12K
  • Storm: 1 claim, $14K

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

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
1storm safe rooms built
Disasters that hit Marshalltown

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MarshalltownDeclared for Marshall County only
2020

Severe Storms

1,029 households applied for aid $538K aid approved $4.7M to the City of Marshalltown for repairs
2018

Severe Storm and Tornadoes

$1.9M to the City of Marshalltown for repairs
2013

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$158K to the City of Marshalltown for repairs
2011

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$198K to the City of Marshalltown for repairs
2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

363 households applied for aid $554K aid approved $616K to the City of Marshalltown for repairs
2007

Severe Winter Storms

$44K to the City of Marshalltown for repairs
2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

435 households applied for aid $485K aid approved $63K to the City of Marshalltown for repairs
Marshall County has had 18 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. Marshalltown covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Marshalltown’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Marshalltown. 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 Marshalltown total about $6.9M 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