Tornado damage rubble, with an American flag flying above

Disasters and Emergencies

Iowans are affected by floods, tornadoes, snow storms, plane crashes, and other natural and human-caused disasters. Learn how to prepare and respond when disaster strikes in your community.

  • Tornado touches down in a field.

    Tornadoes

    When a tornado is coming, you have only a short amount of time to make life-or-death decisions.

  • Severe thunderstorm with lightning striking a field

    Severe Thunderstorms

    Know your area’s risk for storms. In most places they can occur year-round and at any hour.

  • Flooded houses surrounded by sandbags with flood rescue raft transporting people

    Floods

    Floods are the most common natural disaster. Learn how to stay safe when a flood threatens.

  • Vehicles driving through intense snow on interstate

    Winter Weather

    Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, and heart attacks.

  • Sun blasts thermometer with high temperatures.

    Heat

    Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers, resulting in hundreds of deaths each year.

  • Brick house with roof on fire and smoke covering sky

    Fires

    Every year, fires cause thousands of deaths and injuries and billions of dollars in property damage.

  • test

    Hazardous Materials

    Hazardous materials are chemical substances, which if released or misused can pose a threat.

  • Dark derecho clouds swirl over highway.

    Derechos

    Derechos are fast-moving bands of thunderstorms with very destructive winds.

  • Nuclear power plant in the distance with smoke rising from the facility into the sky.

    Nuclear Power Plants

    Nuclear power plants have generated about 20% of United States electricity since 1990.

  • Landslide over road

    Landslides

    The force of rocks, soil, or other debris moving down a slope can devastate anything in its path.

  • Road cracked from earthquake activity

    Earthquakes

    Although earthquakes in Iowa are extremely rare, the threat still exists.

  • Child's hand places flower on September 11, 2001 Memorial.

    Terrorism

    Terrorism is the unlawful use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.