Natural Disasters in Council Bluffs, IA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

80.4

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

83.5

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

21.9

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

69.2

Score (0-100)

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster History & Federal Spending

Source: FEMA

Total Declarations

26

Public Assistance

$39.7M

Individual Assistance

$15.5M

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

12 declarations

Public Assistance by Category

Total: $42.8M
DisasterTypeDatePA $IA $
Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line W… →Severe StormJun 2024$1.3M$386K
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →Severe StormMay 2024$222K—
Severe Storms and Tornadoes →TornadoMay 2024$2.1M$172K
Covid-19 Pandemic →BiologicalMar 2020$2.4M$872K
Covid-19 →BiologicalMar 2020——
Severe Storms and Flooding →FloodMar 2019$12.5M$643K
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line … →Severe StormJul 2014——
Flooding →FloodJun 2011$13.5M$2.7M
Severe Winter Storm →Severe StormMar 2010$10K—
Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm →Severe StormFeb 2010——
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →Severe StormMay 2008$3.5M$456K
Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes →Severe StormMay 2007—$234K
Snow →SnowstormMar 2007——
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation →HurricaneSep 2005——
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →Severe StormMay 2004—$47K
Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding →Severe StormMay 2001$328K—
Severe Storms and Flooding →Severe StormJul 1999$3.9M—
Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding →FloodJul 1998——
Severe Snowstorms →SnowstormNov 1997——
Severe Storms, and Flooding →Severe StormAug 1996——

Showing 20 of 32 disasters

PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

867

Total Claims Paid

$11,052,825

Avg Claim Payout

$12,748

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

15

Federal Funding

$7,874,468

Properties Protected

114

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

0.96

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine11$7,767,335
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan3$73,383
400.1: Utility Protective Measures (Electric, Gas, etc.); 600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan); 601.1: Generators1$33,750

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Council Bluffs has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hail, strong wind, tornado. The area has had 26 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (12 declarations). 867 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $39,660,784 in public assistance recovery funding. $15,485,030 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 15 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.