Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0For tornadoes, Avoca’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Avoca gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then tornadoes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Avoca faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Hail
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Avoca’s grade
River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Avoca, and Avoca’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 22%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Avoca’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Avoca: $762K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Avoca flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Avoca, from FEMA’s records: 12.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding5 claims · $147K
- The Midwest Flooding1 claim · $5K
Avoca isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pottawattamie County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Avoca
Disasters that paid out in Avoca itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Avoca), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Tornadoes1 households applied for aid$886 aid approved
- 2019Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$203K to the City of Avoca for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm$4K to the City of Avoca for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$54K to the City of Avoca for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes22 households applied for aid$38K aid approved$14K to the City of Avoca for repairs
- 2007Snow$4K to the City of Avoca for repairs
Show all 7
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
Pottawattamie County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Avoca after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Avoca archive →Get ready for what Avoca faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Avoca
Is Avoca at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Avoca has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and tornadoes (22%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Avoca flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Avoca since 1979, $189K in all, or 12.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March 2019 Midwest Flooding (5).
Is Avoca in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Pottawattamie County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Avoca?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Avoca’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Avoca?
By FEMA money that reached Avoca, Severe Storms and Flooding (2019): 7 households applied for aid, $14K approved, and $203K to the City of Avoca for repairs. By flood claims, March 2019 Midwest Flooding: 5 paid, $147K.
Is Avoca at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Avoca’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Avoca.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Avoca’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.