How Likely Is a Tornado in Worth County, IA?
How likely is a tornado in Worth County, IA?
Worth County has recorded 23 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 3.3 years - our Moderate band. Put another way: Worth County sees more tornado activity than 56% of US counties. Among 99 Iowa counties in this dataset, Worth County ranks 84 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
2 tornados touching Worth County reached violent (EF4-5) strength since 1950. That single fact carries more weight for the shelter decision than the county's overall frequency band.
The dollar figure Worth County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Iowa has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Iowa this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Power loss after a tornado outbreak in Iowa often reaches homes the storm itself never touched. A battery-backup unit covers the outage without the fuel and venting a generator needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Worth County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 400 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Worth County has about 7,307 residents.