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–Not graded
Natural hazards in Zearing · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Zearing

Zearing isn’t graded for hazard risk: Zearing has 566 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2007.

Flood claims
3
paid since 2007 · $14K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
5
of 19 declared for Story County
By hazard

What Zearing 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

73%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

22%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 7 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Strong wind Hail Ice storms Earthquakes Winter storms Lightning Heat waves top 2% Hurricanes Wildfire Cold waves 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 drought at 50% of Zearing’s expected losses. Drought does 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 Zearing flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2007

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

Paid flood claims, by year
2007: 1 claim2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200720082013
20072026
3
paid claims since 2007
$14K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$5K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Story County.
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Zearing

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

  1. 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
  2. 2020Severe Storms17 households applied for aid$250 aid approved$97K to the City of Zearing for repairs
  3. 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$6K to the City of Zearing for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  4. 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  5. 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in ZearingStory County only

Story County has had 19 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 Zearing after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Zearing archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Zearing 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 ↗
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 Zearing

Does Zearing flood?

Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Zearing since 2007, $14K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once.

Is Zearing 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 Story County, 8% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Zearing?

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

By FEMA money that reached Zearing, Severe Storms (2020): 17 households applied for aid, $250 approved, and $97K to the City of Zearing for repairs.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Zearing.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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