FEMA rates relative winter weather risk for Black Hawk County as very high and reports FEMA annualized frequency of 5.263 per year for the area.
FEMA summary
FEMA's profile for Black Hawk County reports FEMA annualized frequency of 5.263 per year for winter weather. FEMA's relative risk rating for the area is very high; the annualized frequency is a separate measure.
Hazard metrics cover FEMA county-equivalent geographies rather than individual addresses or parcels. Use local or state hazard maps before making a property, insurance, retrofit, or evacuation decision.
Select a hazard to inspect FEMA's figures for Black Hawk County.
Winter Weather
FEMA combines its area-wide loss estimate and community data in this relative rating. Event frequency appears separately below.
Relative FEMA score
99.0/100
Occurrence thresholds vary by hazard. The FEMA methodology defines the value for each hazard.
The area loss estimate combines FEMA's modeled losses to buildings, population, and agriculture across Black Hawk County. It is not an estimate for a home or address.
City risk summary
For Waterloo, FEMA rates winter weather risk for Black Hawk County as very high, with a relative score of 99.0/100. The next highest relative scores are strong wind at 96.9/100 and drought at 93.4/100.
Using FEMA data for Black Hawk County, Waterloo is #1 among 6 covered Iowa entries for winter weather risk. Cedar Rapids is about 50 straight-line miles from the Waterloo map point; its FEMA figures cover Linn County.
For homeowners and movers
Preparedness actions
Living in Waterloo? Learn how to handle water storage, sanitation, and security in a small space.
The map shows Waterloo. All FEMA figures on this page cover Black Hawk County.
The FEMA figures cover Black Hawk County. Address-level conditions require local maps, building records, and property details.
FEMA rates relative winter weather risk for Black Hawk County as very high. Its FEMA annualized frequency is 5.263 per year. Damage at a specific address also depends on the building, soil, elevation, and exact hazard zone.
Among 6 Iowa cities covered by this directory, Waterloo is #1 for relative winter weather risk based on FEMA's score for Black Hawk County. Homes within Waterloo can have different soil, elevation, construction, and hazard-zone conditions.
In FEMA's data for Black Hawk County, the highest relative ratings are Winter Weather (Very High), Strong Wind (Relatively High), and Drought (Relatively Moderate). FEMA uses estimated losses and community data along with event frequency when assigning these ratings.
The hazard numbers cover Black Hawk County. For an individual home, check local fault, flood, fire, evacuation, and building records for the exact address.
FEMA gives Black Hawk County an overall relative risk rating of relatively low. Conditions at a specific home depend on its hazard zones, building type, maintenance, insurance, and access to evacuation routes and emergency services.
Start with this step: Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions. Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions. Use Ready.gov Be Informed and local emergency guidance for a complete plan.
Distances are measured between city coordinates.
| City | Distance | Winter Weather rating | Relative score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 50 mi | Relatively Low | 36.4 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | Relatively Low | 37.5 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91 mi | Relatively High | 95.5 |
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Hazard metrics come from FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 (March 2023). City population and coordinates come from SimpleMaps US Cities Database. For current conditions, use official local maps, warnings, inspections, and professional advice.