Natural Disasters in Rochester, IA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

21.5

Very Low

Expected Annual Loss

43.8

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

10.6

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

91.1

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

Public Assistance

$3.2M

Individual Assistance

$2.8M

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

7 declarations

Disaster	Type	Date	PA $	IA $
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →	Severe Storm	May 2024	$142K	$5K
Severe Storms →	Severe Storm	Aug 2020	$1.5M	$58K
Covid-19 Pandemic →	Biological	Mar 2020	$83K	$107K
Covid-19 →	Biological	Mar 2020	—	—
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding →	Severe Storm	Aug 2014	$435K	—
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →	Severe Storm	Jul 2013	—	—
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding →	Flood	May 2013	—	—
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →	Severe Storm	May 2008	$626K	$2.6M
Severe Winter Storm →	Severe Ice Storm	Jan 2008	$355K	—
Severe Winter Storms →	Severe Storm	Mar 2007	—	—
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation →	Hurricane	Sep 2005	—	—
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding →	Severe Storm	May 2004	—	$10K
Severe Storms and Flooding →	Flood	Jun 2002	—	—
Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding →	Flood	Jul 1998	—	—
Severe Storms & Flooding →	Flood	Jul 1993	—	—
Severe Storms & Flooding →	Flood	Apr 1993	—	—
Severe Storms & Flooding →	Flood	May 1990	—	—
Severe Storms & Flooding →	Flood	Jun 1974	—	—

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$973,789

Avg Claim Payout

$25,626

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

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$2,433,628

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.13

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	9	$94,817
601.1: Generators	3	$105,975
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	2	$818,566
601.2: Generators - Regular	2	$99,409
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures	1	$281,053

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

Rochester has a very low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are drought, strong wind, hail. The area has had 18 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (7 declarations). 38 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $3,150,880 in public assistance recovery funding. $2,776,019 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 18 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.