Mitchell County, IA Environment & Hazard Risk

• Strong windRelatively High$4.6M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.8 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$2.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 22 events a year
• HailRelatively Low$420K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.5 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Low$1.4M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$70K/yr expected annual loss, about 19 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$566K/yr expected annual loss, about 9.7 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$347/yr expected annual loss, about once every 20 years
• Ice stormVery Low$21.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Heat waveVery Low$51.3K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.8 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$4,769/yr expected annual loss, about once every 10,070 years
• LightningVery Low$44.5K/yr expected annual loss, about 40 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$5,661/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2,336 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

9 of 5,264 (0.2%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

87

Insured in high-risk zones

5 (6%)

Flood claims since 1978

25

Claims paid since 1978

$467K

• Hail78
• Thunderstorm Wind74
• Winter Storm51
• Drought23
• Flash Flood23
• Blizzard21
• Flood21
• Extreme Cold/Wind Chill19
• High Wind17
• Heavy Snow15

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind09/02/2011

  Carpenter, Mitchell County

  $41.4M damage

  What happened

  Widespread corn and bean fields were flattened across Mitchell County. The USDA estimated that 500 acres of corn were destroyed while 81,000 acres suffered a 60% yield loss. Almost 8,600 acres of beans suffered a 10% yield loss. Total crop losses were estimated to be in excess of $41 million. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a natural disaster designation for this damage.

• Flash Flood05/20/2013

  Otranto, Mitchell County

  $24.5M damage

  What happened

  Heavy rain produced wide spread flash flooding across much of Mitchell County. Numerous roads around Stacyville were under water by early evening and sand bagging occurred along the Little Cedar River. U.S. Highway 218 was closed by flooding between Osage and St. Ansgar and State Highway 9 was closed east and west of Osage. West of Osage, two culverts were washed away, causing a section of Highway 9 to collapse. A total of 22 roads were closed, 6 to 8 bridges washed out and approximately 90 percent of the gravel roads across the entire county were covered with water. Damage to the roads was estimated to be around $4.5 million. In addition to all the road damage, a railroad bridge north of St. Ansgar was also washed out. The Stacyville fire department reported between 6 and 7 inches of rain had fallen during the mid and late afternoon hours. The heavy rains also took out about 15 percent of the county's corn crop.

• Flash Flood08/28/2021

  Otranto, Mitchell County

  $3.5M damage

  What happened

  Runoff from heavy rains pushed the Little Cedar River out of its banks. County roads A46 and T64 near New Haven had to be closed because of the flood waters. Spring Creek also went out if its banks causing U.S. Highway 18 to be closed near Osage. A dam on the Cedar River near Mitchell sustained damage from the flood waters. Numerous gravel roads across the county suffered washouts.

• Flood06/08/2008

  Meyer, Mitchell County

  $2.7M damage

  What happened

  Highway 218 was closed due to flooding and Highway 9 east of Osage was closed since water topped the bridge. Widespread overland flooding continued across the county, which was described as a lake on Sunday June 8. In addition, the Cedar River was in flood for several days, cresting in Charles City, Iowa during the morning of June 9th.||In Stacyville the flooding was the worst in years and left water standing in fields for more than a week. Besides crop damage, many basements were flooded.

• Flash Flood06/08/2008

  Mona, Mitchell County

  $2.5M damage

  What happened

  Flash flooding closed several secondary roads in the county with numerous bridges and culverts washed out.

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind04/07/2001

  Osage, Mitchell County

  $1M damage

  What happened

  Wind gusts estimated at 65 to 70 mph caused damage to several farms, knocking down sheds and outbuildings. Ten cattle were killed when a large shed collapsed on them. A 660 foot chicken house, containing 45,000 chickens, was completely destroyed, injuring and killing many of the animals.

• Osage Municipal Water SupplyServes 3,637 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• St Ansgar Water SupplyServes 1,161 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Riceville Water SupplyServes 816 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Stacyville Water SupplyServes 465 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Orchard Water WorksServes 68 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting