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Iowa Park, Texas IMG 0723Photo: Billy Hathorn at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Iowa Park · FEMA

FEMA puts Iowa Park’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Iowa Park gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #104 of 642 in Texas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1990.

River and rain flooding 58%Tornadoes 17%Wildfire 10%

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 79%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#104 of 642 in Texas
Hazard risk
A−#104 of 642
in Texas · lower than 79% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
58% of expected building damage
Flood claims
5
paid since 1990 · $166K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
3
of 15 declared for Wichita County

What stands out about Iowa Park’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Made safer with FEMA grants79 storm safe rooms built with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Iowa Park 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

58%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

17%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts

Wildfire

10%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

9%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 9 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Ice storms Earthquakes Strong wind Cold waves top 4% Lightning Hurricanes Winter storms Heat 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 18% of Iowa Park’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.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Iowa Park’s grade

River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Iowa Park, and Iowa Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 10%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Iowa Park sits
Iowa Park
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #104 of 642 in Texas; lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Iowa Park’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding58%Tornadoes17%Wildfire10%Everything else16%

The typical Texas town has higher expected damage than 50% of U.S. towns; within the state, Iowa Park has less expected damage per building than 84% of Texas towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Iowa Park: $963K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Iowa Park covers 3 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 Iowa Park flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1990

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Iowa Park, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1990: 1 claim1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 2 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 1 claim2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199020082015
19902026
Biggest named events
  • The Early summer storms2 claims · $61K
  • The Texas Spring Flooding1 claim · $97K
5
paid claims since 1990
$166K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$33K
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

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

Insurance rates: Wichita County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
79storm safe rooms built
Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Iowa Park

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

  1. 2021Severe Winter Storms70 households applied for aid$33K aid approved
  2. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding23 households applied for aid$20K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding38 households applied for aid$182K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Iowa ParkWichita County only

Wichita County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Also 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Wichita County, 2009–2021.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Iowa Park archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Iowa Park 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 ↗
Wildfire
  • Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
  • Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
  • Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
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 Iowa Park

Is Iowa Park at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Iowa Park has lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #104 of 642 in Texas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Iowa Park flood?

Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Iowa Park since 1990, $166K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Early summer storms (2).

Is Iowa Park 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 Wichita County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Iowa Park?

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

By FEMA money that reached Iowa Park, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2007): 38 households applied for aid, $182K approved. By flood claims, Early summer storms: 2 paid, $61K.

Is Iowa Park at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Iowa Park’s rate for it is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Iowa Park.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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