Grundy County, IA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Grundy County has experienced 15 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Grundy County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hail, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 24% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (0th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Grundy County has been designated in 15 declarations since 1969, covering 4 disaster types including severe storm (8), flood (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 15 total declarations since 1969.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 14.2 | 7 | 0 | $200K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 10.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 9.4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 34.8 | 7 | 0 | $100K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 9.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 70.3 | 15 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 41.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 57.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 21.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 30.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 3.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 89.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 11.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Grundy County ranks in the 0th percentile (Very low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 0th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 0th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 9th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 4th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 2nd | Very low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 8th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 9th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 28.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 30 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 17 in 2016–20 vs 13 in 2021–25 (-24% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Grundy County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Grundy County, Iowa are drought, hail, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Grundy County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Grundy County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (8 declarations).
Has Grundy County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Grundy County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Grundy County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Black Hawk County, IA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Franklin County, IA has the lowest (Very Low). Grundy County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Grundy County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Grundy County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Grundy County's composite score of 13 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 13% of US counties.