Natural hazards · Panama

Panama, IA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Panama comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Panama?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Panama to be higher than in 56% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding26%Tornadoes23%Cold waves14%Drought13%Hail13%Strong wind6%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Panama faces

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

Inland flooding

26% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 58% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 7 years in the area

Tornadoes

23% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Cold waves

14% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Drought

13% of expected damage

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Hail

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 93% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

Ice stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Panama flood?

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

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Shelby County.

Disasters that hit Panama

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into PanamaDeclared for Shelby County only

2024

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

2 households applied for aid $985 aid approved

2019

Severe Storms and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $2K aid approved

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

3 households applied for aid $1K aid approved

2010

Severe Winter Storm

$1K to the City of Panama for repairs

2007

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

1 household applied for aid

2007

Snow

$2K to the City of Panama for repairs

Shelby County has had 18 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. Panama 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 Panama’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Panama. 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.

Panama, IA natural hazards

How exposed is Panama?

What Panama faces

Inland flooding

Tornadoes

Cold waves

Drought

Hail

Strong wind

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Panama flood?

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Severe Storms and Flooding

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

Severe Winter Storm

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

Snow

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

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