Washington County, IA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Washington County has experienced 15 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Washington County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, hail, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 17% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (14th 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. Washington County has been designated in 15 declarations since 1965, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (7), 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 |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 1965.
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 | 54.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 48.4 | 9 | 0 | $50K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 35.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 64.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 57 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 20.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 83.3 | 29 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 90.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 53.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 47 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 45.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 48.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 79 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 61.3 | 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
Washington County ranks in the 14th 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 | 14th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 9th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 65th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 30th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 10th | 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 | 39th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 37th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 32.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 42 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 23 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (-17% — 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 Washington County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Washington County, Iowa are strong wind, hail, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Washington County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Washington County has received 15 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Washington County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Washington County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Washington County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Johnson County, IA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Louisa County, IA has the lowest (Very Low). Washington County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Washington County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Washington 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. Washington County's composite score of 44 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 44% of US counties.