Natural hazards · Monticello

Monticello, IA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Monticello comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 28 claims here since 1979. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Monticello?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Monticello to be higher than in 64% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding57%Tornadoes15%Strong wind12%Cold waves6%Hail6%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Monticello faces

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

Inland flooding

57% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

15% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 88 years in the area

Strong wind

12% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 8 times a year in the area

Hail

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 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 Monticello flood?

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

28paid claims since 1979

$3.0Mpaid to owners

5homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Storm: 1 claim, $9K

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. Monticello isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Jones County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

12flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Monticello

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MonticelloDeclared for Jones County only

2014

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

$322K to the City of Monticello for repairs

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

33 households applied for aid $157K aid approved $314K to the City of Monticello for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

39 households applied for aid $31K aid approved $83K to the City of Monticello for repairs

2007

Severe Winter Storms

$15K to the City of Monticello for repairs

2004

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

2 households applied for aid

2002

Severe Storms and Flooding

$251K to the City of Monticello for repairs

Jones 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. Monticello covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Monticello’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Monticello. 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 Monticello total about $2.7M 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.

Monticello, IA natural hazards

How exposed is Monticello?

What Monticello faces

Inland flooding

Tornadoes

Strong wind

Cold waves

Hail

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Monticello flood?

Biggest named events

Homes that flooded again and again

What’s been done with FEMA grants

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Winter Storms

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Storms and Flooding

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

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