Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0Storms, floods and disasters in Crescent
Crescent isn’t graded for hazard risk: Crescent has 549 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2019.
What Crescent 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.
Does Crescent flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2019
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Crescent, from FEMA’s records.
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding1 claim · $133K
Crescent 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Crescent
Disasters that paid out in Crescent itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Crescent), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes34 households applied for aid$108K aid approved$8K to the City of Crescent for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms and Tornadoes35 households applied for aid$48K aid approved
- 2019Severe Storms and Flooding41 households applied for aid$94K aid approved$141K to the City of Crescent for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Flooding86 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$1.4M to the City of Crescent for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$870 to the City of Crescent for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm$2K to the City of Crescent for repairs
Show all 8
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$15K to the City of Crescent for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes11 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$7K to the City of Crescent for repairs
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 Crescent after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Crescent archive →Get ready for what Crescent 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 Crescent
Does Crescent flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Crescent since 2019, $133K in all. The most claims came from March 2019 Midwest Flooding (1).
Is Crescent 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 Crescent?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Crescent’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 Crescent?
By FEMA money that reached Crescent, Flooding (2011): 86 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved, and $1.4M to the City of Crescent for repairs. By flood claims, March 2019 Midwest Flooding: 1 paid, $133K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Crescent.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Crescent’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.