Natural hazards · Sheldon

Sheldon, IA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Sheldon comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2010. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Sheldon?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Sheldon to be higher than in 28% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding31%Tornadoes28%Cold waves22%Strong wind6%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Sheldon faces

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

Inland flooding

31% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 23% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

28% of expected damage

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

Cold waves

22% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Recorded about 9 times a year in the area

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

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 Sheldon flood?

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

1paid claims since 2010

$1Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20102026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: O'Brien County.

Disasters that hit Sheldon

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SheldonDeclared for O'Brien County only

2024

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

415 households applied for aid $2.0M aid approved $393K to the City of Sheldon for repairs

2018

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

$51K to the City of Sheldon for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm

$87K to the City of Sheldon for repairs

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

34 households applied for aid $23K aid approved $19K to the City of Sheldon for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm

$14K to the City of Sheldon for repairs

2007

Snow

$13K to the City of Sheldon for repairs

O'Brien County has had 13 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. Sheldon covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Sheldon’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Sheldon. 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 Sheldon total about $2.0M 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.