Natural Disasters in West Branch, IA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

87.4

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

90.4

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

11.4

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

96.7

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Strong Wind98.9Tornado98.2Hail95.3
HazardRisk Score
Strong Wind98.9
Tornado98.2
Hail95.3
Cold Wave90.3
Winter Weather87.9
Heat Wave87.5
Drought81.8
Landslide79.1
Ice Storm75.7
Lightning74.5
Wildfire64.4
Earthquake45.1
Hurricane13.6

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

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

24

Most Recent

Severe Storm

Aug 2020

Most Common Type

Flood

12 declarations

DateTypeDeclaration
Aug 17, 2020Severe StormSEVERE STORMS
Mar 23, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCOVID-19
Aug 5, 2014Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Jul 2, 2013Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
May 31, 2013FloodSEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
May 27, 2008Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Jan 4, 2008Severe Ice StormSEVERE WINTER STORM
Mar 14, 2007Severe StormSEVERE WINTER STORMS
Sep 10, 2005HurricaneHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
May 25, 2004Severe StormSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Jun 19, 2002FloodSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Jul 2, 1998FloodSEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND FLOODING
Jun 24, 1996Severe StormSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Jul 9, 1993FloodSEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Jul 12, 1991FloodSEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Sep 6, 1990FloodSEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
May 26, 1990FloodSEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Jun 24, 1974FloodSEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
May 23, 1973FloodSEVERE STORMS & FLOODING

Showing 20 of 24 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

514

Total IA Distributed

$3,116,308

Repair/Replace

$1,893,124

Rental Assistance

$311,027

DisasterRegistrationsTotal IA $Avg Damage
DR-47843N/A—
DR-44211N/A—
DR-1763337$2,305,028$11,675
DR-4483131$802,933—
DR-15185$7,218$1,211
DR-455737$1,130—

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

446

Total Claims Paid

$31,935,765

Avg Claim Payout

$71,605

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$494,846,414

Disasters with PA

7

Total Projects

497

DisasterTypeProjectsFederal $
DR-1763Severe Storm(s)302$457,359,014
DR-4483Biological65$28,334,998
DR-4557Severe Storm(s)49$3,935,661
DR-4126Severe Storm(s)24$2,766,970
DR-4187Severe Storm(s)17$1,686,414
DR-1737Severe Ice Storm39$760,257
DR-1367Severe Storm(s)1$3,099

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

18

Federal Funding

$2,433,628

Properties Protected

28

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.13

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project TypeProjectsFederal $
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan9$94,817
601.1: Generators3$105,975
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine2$818,566
601.2: Generators - Regular2$99,409
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures1$281,053

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

West Branch has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are strong wind, tornado, hail. The area has had 24 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (12 declarations). 446 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $494,846,414 in public assistance recovery funding. $3,116,308 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 18 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.