Council Bluffs, IA
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Council Bluffs is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Pottawattamie County, IA. The county's highest-rated hazards are hail, strong wind, and tornado.
Storm events near Council Bluffs
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Council Bluffs's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Council Bluffs itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Pottawattamie County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Council Bluffs along with the rest of the county, not a Council Bluffs-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 67.2 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 74.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 26.9 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 83.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 95.2 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 78.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 89.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | 95.7 | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | 0 | No Rating |
| Ice Storm | 81.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | 91.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | 72.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 95.3 | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 81.6 | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Pottawattamie County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Pottawattamie County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Council Bluffs, IA at risk of?
Council Bluffs is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — lower risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Pottawattamie County, where Council Bluffs is located, are hail, strong wind, and tornado.
What is Council Bluffs's biggest natural hazard risk?
Hail is the highest-rated hazard for Pottawattamie County, where Council Bluffs is located, scoring 95.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Council Bluffs a high-risk area for natural disasters?
No — Council Bluffs carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Pottawattamie County.
Has Council Bluffs had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 47 tornado, 358 hail, 109 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Council Bluffs since 2016.