Every federal disaster in Iowa City since 1953

Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Johnson County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.

Declarations: 32since 1953
Major disasters: 29the most serious kind
Since 2000: 15declarations
Most recent: 2020Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

Floods (18)Severe storms and tornadoes (9)Biological (COVID-19) (3)Hurricanes and tropical storms (1)Winter storms (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Johnson County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by strong wind, tornado and winter weather. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.

All declarations

Declared	Event	Type	FEMA number
Sep 10, 2020	Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds	Major disaster	DR-4561
Aug 17, 2020	Severe Storms	Major disaster	DR-4557
Mar 23, 2020	COVID-19 Pandemic	Major disaster	DR-4483
Mar 13, 2020	COVID-19	Emergency	EM-3524
Mar 13, 2020	COVID-19	Emergency	EM-3480
Apr 29, 2019	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4430
Aug 5, 2014	Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4187
Jul 2, 2013	Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4126
May 31, 2013	Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4119
May 27, 2008	Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1763
Jan 4, 2008	Severe Winter Storm	Major disaster	DR-1737
Mar 14, 2007	Severe Winter Storms	Major disaster	DR-1688
Sep 10, 2005	Hurricane Katrina Evacuation	Emergency	EM-3239
May 25, 2004	Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1518
Jun 19, 2002	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1420
Jul 2, 1998	Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1230
Jun 24, 1996	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1121
Jul 9, 1993	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-996
Jul 12, 1991	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-911
Sep 6, 1990	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-879
May 26, 1990	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-868
Jun 24, 1974	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-443
May 23, 1973	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-386
Aug 18, 1972	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-348
Aug 14, 1969	Heavy Rains & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-269
May 29, 1968	Tornadoes & Severe Storms	Major disaster	DR-240
Apr 22, 1965	Flooding	Major disaster	DR-193
Sep 5, 1962	Floods	Major disaster	DR-133
Mar 31, 1961	Floods	Major disaster	DR-111
Jul 5, 1958	Floods	Major disaster	DR-86
Jun 23, 1954	Flood	Major disaster	DR-17
Jun 11, 1953	Flood	Major disaster	DR-8

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Iowa City had?

Since 1953, the federal government has issued 32 disaster or emergency declarations covering Johnson County, including 29 major disaster declarations. 15 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Iowa City?

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds (Major disaster, declared September 10, 2020).

What kinds of disasters hit Iowa City most often?

By FEMA incident type: flood (18), severe storm (8), biological (3) and tornado (1).

New to Iowa City? The city profile covers flood maps and emergency alerts, and the risk summary shows FEMA's hazard ratings.

Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), downloaded October 18, 2026. We list declarations that named Johnson County, plus early statewide declarations from before FEMA designated individual counties. "Major disaster" declarations bring the widest federal aid; "emergency" declarations cover shorter-term help; "fire management" declarations help pay to fight large wildfires.