Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Council Bluffs than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Council Bluffs gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #122 of 140 in Iowa. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then tornadoes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 436 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Council Bluffs’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs’ grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Council Bluffs, and Council Bluffs’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 20%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C #122 of 140 in Iowa; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Council Bluffs’ residents live in 22 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Iowa town has lower expected damage than 57% of U.S. towns; within the state, Council Bluffs has more expected damage per building than 87% of Iowa towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $28.5M a year in losses across Council Bluffs: $16.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Council Bluffs flood? Yes: 436 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Council Bluffs, from FEMA’s records: 15.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late spring storms74 claims · $2.2M
- The Midwest Flooding26 claims · $194K
- The Storm6 claims · $65K
Council Bluffs 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Council Bluffs
Disasters that paid out in Council Bluffs itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Council Bluffs), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes94 households applied for aid$260K aid approved$555K to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms and Tornadoes93 households applied for aid$117K aid approved$8K to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms and Flooding202 households applied for aid$547K aid approved$2.7M to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs23 flood claims paid that year
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$632K to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs24 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Flooding660 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved$11.8M to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs76 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm$116K to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 12
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding422 households applied for aid$452K aid approved$2.6M to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes167 households applied for aid$197K aid approved$181K to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs
- 2007Snow$67K to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding12 households applied for aid$33K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$204K to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Severe Storms and Flooding$858K to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs147 flood claims paid that year
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 Council Bluffs after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Council Bluffs archive →Council Bluffs and its neighbors
Council Bluffs is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
| Omaha | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 188 |
| Council Bluffs | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 436 |
| Carter Lake | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs
Is Council Bluffs at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Council Bluffs has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #122 of 140 in Iowa. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and tornadoes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Council Bluffs flood?
Flood insurance has paid 436 claims in Council Bluffs since 1978, $5.5M in all, or 15.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 30 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late spring storms (74).
Is Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Council Bluffs’ 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 Council Bluffs?
By FEMA money that reached Council Bluffs, Flooding (2011): 660 households applied for aid, $1.6M approved, and $11.8M to the City of Council Bluffs for repairs. By flood claims, Late spring storms: 74 paid, $2.2M.
Is Council Bluffs at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Council Bluffs’ rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Council Bluffs.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Council Bluffs’ 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.