Franklin Pearson House · Photo: C.C. Woodburn · Public domain

–Not graded

Natural hazards in Keosauqua · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Keosauqua

Keosauqua isn’t graded for hazard risk: Keosauqua has 914 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1980.

Flood claims

paid since 1980 · $94K

Disasters paid out here

of 13 declared for Van Buren County

By hazard

What Keosauqua 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

80%of expected building damage

Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

8%of expected building damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts

Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Strong wind

6%of expected building damage

Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Smaller shares here

Hail Earthquakes Wildfire Ice storms Winter storms Lightning Hurricanes Cold waves Heat waves top 2% 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 heat waves at 10% of Keosauqua’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), 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.

Flood insurance claims

Does Keosauqua flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1980

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Keosauqua, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year

198019932008

19802026

Biggest named events

The Midwest Flooding5 claims · $88K

paid claims since 1980

$94K

paid to owners

homes flooded more than once

$12K

average claim

of homes in flood zones are insured

of all homes are insured

No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Van Buren County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1storm safe room built

Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Keosauqua

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

2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$6K to the City of Keosauqua for repairs
2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding15 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$36K to the City of Keosauqua for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
2007Severe Winter Storm$1K to the City of Keosauqua for repairs

Disasters declared, by decade

Paid out in KeosauquaVan Buren County only

Van Buren 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 Keosauqua after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Keosauqua archive →

Be ready

Get ready for what Keosauqua 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.

Questions about natural hazards in Keosauqua

Does Keosauqua flood?

Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Keosauqua since 1980, $94K in all. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (5).

Is Keosauqua 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 Van Buren County, 4% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Keosauqua?

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

By FEMA money that reached Keosauqua, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): 15 households applied for aid, $14K approved, and $36K to the City of Keosauqua for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 5 paid, $88K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Keosauqua.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

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

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