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The United States Post Office Centerville, IowaPhoto: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Centerville · FEMA

FEMA puts Centerville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Centerville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #30 of 140 in Iowa. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then tornadoes (19%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.

River and rain flooding 62%Tornadoes 19%Strong wind 8%

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

less than 74%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#30 of 140 in Iowa
Hazard risk
B+#30 of 140
in Iowa · lower than 74% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
62% of expected building damage
Flood claims
0
paid since 1978 · $0
Disasters paid out here
7
of 13 declared for Appanoose County
By hazard

What Centerville 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

62%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

19%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts

Strong wind

8%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hail

7%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Ice storms Wildfire Winter storms Lightning Heat waves top 0% Cold waves Hurricanes Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts tornadoes at 33% of Centerville’s expected losses. Tornadoes do little damage to buildings (19.4%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Centerville’s grade

River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Centerville, and Centerville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 19%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Centerville sits
Centerville
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B+ #30 of 140 in Iowa; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Centerville’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding62%Tornadoes19%Strong wind8%Everything else11%

The typical Iowa town has lower expected damage than 57% of U.S. towns; within the state, Centerville has less expected damage per building than 79% of Iowa towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Centerville: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Centerville covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Centerville flood? No paid flood claims on record

FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Centerville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.

of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Centerville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Appanoose County.
Disasters

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Centerville

Disasters that paid out in Centerville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Centerville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$11K to the City of Centerville for repairs
  2. 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$11K to the City of Centerville for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes180 households applied for aid$295K aid approved$55K to the City of Centerville for repairs
  4. 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding48 households applied for aid$84K aid approved$96K to the City of Centerville for repairs
  5. 2007Severe Winter Storm$141K to the City of Centerville for repairs
  6. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$39K to the City of Centerville for repairs
Show all 7
  1. 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding18 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$12K to the City of Centerville for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in CentervilleAppanoose County only

Appanoose County has had 13 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Centerville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Centerville archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Centerville faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
High winds
  • Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
  • Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
  • Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Centerville

Is Centerville at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Centerville has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #30 of 140 in Iowa. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and tornadoes (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Is Centerville 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 Appanoose County, 0% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.0% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Centerville?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Centerville’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 Centerville?

By FEMA money that reached Centerville, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2010): 180 households applied for aid, $295K approved, and $55K to the City of Centerville for repairs.

Is Centerville at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Centerville’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Centerville.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Centerville’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.