Des Moines, IA real-estate risk
Des Moines, IA (Polk County) carries a FEMA National Risk Index score of 92/100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" — driven mainly by strong wind and tornado, with roughly $138M in expected natural-hazard losses per year (FEMA NRI, 2025).
Hazard scores (0–100)
Expected annual loss
$138M/yr
all natural hazards, county-wide
Buildings-only loss
$88M/yr
the part that hits owners + insurers
What it means for insurance
Severe convective storms (tornado/hail) drive the insurance cost here — wind/hail deductibles and roof age are what underwriters price, and what's been pushing Midwest/Plains premiums up.
Des Moines risk — FAQ
Is Des Moines, IA a high-risk area for real estate?
Des Moines scores 92/100 on FEMA's National Risk Index — rated "Relatively Moderate" versus all US counties. Its expected natural-hazard loss is about $138M per year.
What is the biggest natural hazard in Des Moines?
The highest-rated hazard is strong wind (99.2/100), followed by tornado (98.1/100).
How does hazard risk affect property insurance in Des Moines?
Severe convective storms (tornado/hail) drive the insurance cost here — wind/hail deductibles and roof age are what underwriters price, and what's been pushing Midwest/Plains premiums up.
Scan a Des Moines property — free
Drop in any Des Moinesaddress and PropHunt's AI pulls the cap rate, comps, permit history and the full hazard/insurance read — no card required.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (Counties), v1.20 (2026-06-13). Scores are national percentiles (0–100). Insurance commentary is PropHunt's interpretation of the hazard data, not an insurance quote.
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