Henry County, IA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Henry County has experienced 16 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.
Henry County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, strong wind, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 54% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (20th 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. Henry County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1969, covering 4 disaster types including severe storm (7), flood (6), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 2002 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 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 | 47.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 26.7 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 43.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 81 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 48.5 | 4 | 0 | $2K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 16.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 80 | 33 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 80.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 42.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 40.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 30.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 63.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 78.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 62.2 | 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
Henry County ranks in the 20th 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 | 20th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 12th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 50th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 38th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 27th | 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 | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 41st | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 35.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 35 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 24 in 2016–20 vs 11 in 2021–25 (-54% — 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 Henry County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Henry County, Iowa are heat wave, strong wind, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Henry County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Henry County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Henry County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Henry County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Henry County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Lee County, IA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Louisa County, IA has the lowest (Very Low). Henry County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Henry County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Henry 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. Henry County's composite score of 31 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 31% of US counties.