Iowa among States Hit by Most Weather Disasters in Last Decade

During a week where a lot of us saw our first measurable snowfall of the season, we were all reminded about how much the weather can wreak havoc on our lives in short order.

And while our recent precipitation fell far short of a blizzard, we know full well just how devastating the weather can be.

24/7 Wall St. recently looked at data from the Atlas of Disaster report published by Rebuild by Design, to find which states had the highest number of weather-related disasters from 2011 to 2021.

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What they found is that a staggering 90 percent of counties in the United States experienced a federally declared climate disaster during that time frame.

In all, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) paid out $91 billion in disaster aid to states from 2011 to 2021.

One of the states hardest hit over that decade was Iowa.

The Hawkeye State registered 21 climate disaster declarations from 2011-2021, which was the fourth-highest total in America.

During that time, the state received $717 million from FEMA and HUD.

Winneshiek County (Seat: Decorah) was the county with the highest disaster occurrences in Iowa from 2011 to 2021.

STATES WITH MOST WEATHER DISASTERS (2011-2021)

California - 25
Oklahoma, Mississippi - 22
Iowa - 21
Tennessee - 20
Louisiana - 18
Alabama, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia - 17

South Dakota was 20th overall with 13 climate disaster declarations during that time.

The Mount Rushmore State received $237 million in aid from FEMA and HUD between 2011 and 2021.

Butte, (Seat: Belle Fourche), Jackson (Seat: Kadoka), and Union (Seat: Elk Point) counties had the highest disaster declarations.

Minnesota was in the bottom half of the states at number 27.

The North Star State had 11 climate disaster declarations from 2011-2021 with Sibley County (Seat: Gaylord) leading the way.

The state received $276 million in aid from FEMA and HUD during that time.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

A Survival Guide For Your First Winter in South Dakota

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the rest of the Sioux Empire (AKA southeastern South Dakota) are welcoming thousands of new residents every year.

Many of you new folks will be experiencing your first eastern South Dakota winter. While it doesn't usually get as bad as our Dakota friends up north, I speak from experience when I say it can get a little rough.

MORE: What Every South Dakotan Should Be Doing to Prepare for Winter

So, to help ease you into winter in Sioux Falls and South Dakota here are some winter survival tips:

LOOK: The most extreme temperatures in the history of every state

Stacker consulted 2021 data from the NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) to illustrate the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in each state. Each slide also reveals the all-time highest 24-hour precipitation record and all-time highest 24-hour snowfall.

Keep reading to find out individual state records in alphabetical order.

Filed Under: Iowa, Minnesota, Weather

Categories: Articles, News, Newsletter KYBB, South Dakota