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Missouri Environment & Hazard Risk

3 counties rated high or very high risk. 64,216 storm events since 1996, #4 among states.

Expected yearly loss
$3.94B
$641 per person
Storm events since 1996
64,216
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
10,574
$963M in claims paid
Superfund sites
39
517 toxic release facilities

Risk by county

FEMA National Risk Index rating, highest risk first

CountyOverall riskTop hazardFlood policiesFlood claims paid
St. Louis CountyHighHeat wave2,070$265M
St. Louis cityHighHeat wave135$10.14M
Jackson CountyHighTornado527$45.75M
St. Charles CountyModerateStrong wind1,076$156M
Jefferson CountyModerateStrong wind591$69.26M
Greene CountyModerateIce storm179$3.36M
Clay CountyModerateCold wave258$11.15M
Camden CountyModerateLandslide224$1.71M
Boone CountyModerateHeat wave129$4.06M
Cape Girardeau CountyModerateEarthquake54$11.16M
Jasper CountyModerateIce storm121$2.86M
Taney CountyModerateIce storm141$18.55M
Franklin CountyModerateStrong wind156$32.23M
Butler CountyModerateEarthquake261$10.13M
Dunklin CountyLowEarthquake243$399K
Scott CountyLowEarthquake665$4.42M
St. Francois CountyLowHeat wave51$2.8M
Pemiscot CountyLowEarthquake308$746K
Howell CountyLowIce storm24$3.59M
Newton CountyLowIce storm143$5.39M
Stone CountyLowStrong wind50$2.13M
Morgan CountyLowIce storm72$162K
Barry CountyLowIce storm6$2.13M
Cass CountyLowHail102$5.42M
Buchanan CountyLowHail215$22.87M
Stoddard CountyLowEarthquake138$1.06M
Cole CountyLowHeat wave83$7.58M
New Madrid CountyLowEarthquake306$2.99M
Platte CountyLowHeat wave109$13.02M
Iron CountyLowHeat wave37$409K
Washington CountyLowHeat wave10$265K
Lincoln CountyLowHeat wave167$37.1M
Wayne CountyLowEarthquake57$3.17M
Benton CountyLowStrong wind15$318K
Christian CountyLowIce storm70$2.93M
Lawrence CountyLowStrong wind53$657K
Laclede CountyLowIce storm18$654K
McDonald CountyLowIce storm53$12.78M
Callaway CountyLowHeat wave28$4.5M
Reynolds CountyLowCold wave16$3.04M
Texas CountyLowCold wave14$310K
Pettis CountyLowHeat wave37$335K
Pulaski CountyLowHeat wave66$7.02M
Shannon CountyLowCold wave4$158K
Wright CountyLowIce storm3$93.11K
Mississippi CountyLowEarthquake217$4.37M
Ripley CountyLowEarthquake87$12.45M
Clinton CountyLowHail15$66.74K
Warren CountyLowHeat wave42$2.31M
Miller CountyLowIce storm16$553K
Crawford CountyLowHeat wave21$6.1M
Johnson CountyLowCold wave68$307K
Ste. Genevieve CountyLowHeat wave43$6.97M
Polk CountyLowIce storm3$133K
Carter CountyLowEarthquake37$5.45M
Phelps CountyLowHeat wave76$11.55M
Henry CountyLowIce storm17$8,414
Dent CountyLowCold wave9$26.6K
Lafayette CountyLowCold wave5$276K
Saline CountyLowDrought9$272K
Audrain CountyLowHeat wave32$656K
Madison CountyLowHeat wave25$2.61M
Oregon CountyLowEarthquake6$490K
Marion CountyLowHeat wave50$11.24M
Perry CountyLowStrong wind17$4.97M
Vernon CountyLowDrought7$93.36K
Nodaway CountyLowDrought7$149K
Webster CountyLowIce storm9$341K
Ray CountyLowLandslide73$2.16M
Barton CountyLowDrought20$270K
Dallas CountyVery LowIce storm6$27.94K
Pike CountyVery LowHeat wave58$10.49M
Montgomery CountyVery LowHeat wave5$1.29M
Macon CountyVery LowLandslide4$8,285
Randolph CountyVery LowHeat wave8$1,988
Ozark CountyVery LowHeat wave2$335K
Scotland CountyVery LowHeat wave--
Osage CountyVery LowHeat wave34$3.38M
Carroll CountyVery LowDrought15$3.69M
Gasconade CountyVery LowHeat wave36$8.07M
Linn CountyVery LowDrought6$215K
Moniteau CountyVery LowIce storm7$261K
Bates CountyVery LowStrong wind9$646K
Daviess CountyVery LowDrought-$609K
Chariton CountyVery LowDrought22$821K
Harrison CountyVery LowDrought2$157K
Gentry CountyVery LowDrought-$35.55K
Adair CountyVery LowLandslide5$531K
Grundy CountyVery LowDrought2$158K
Lewis CountyVery LowHeat wave27$3.51M
Bollinger CountyVery LowEarthquake14$2.29M
Cedar CountyVery LowIce storm2-
St. Clair CountyVery LowDrought--
Douglas CountyVery LowIce storm1-
Hickory CountyVery LowIce storm-$341K
Dade CountyVery LowIce storm--
Livingston CountyVery LowDrought2$317K
Andrew CountyVery LowLandslide29$4M
Clark CountyVery LowHeat wave28$7.55M
Atchison CountyVery LowDrought7$4.99M
Monroe CountyVery LowHeat wave3$199K
Knox CountyVery LowHeat wave-$1.06M
Maries CountyVery LowIce storm12$2.99M
Cooper CountyVery LowHeat wave5$137K
DeKalb CountyVery LowDrought1$99.06K
Shelby CountyVery LowLightning1$80.57K
Holt CountyVery LowDrought199$39.32M
Caldwell CountyVery LowDrought1$271
Ralls CountyVery LowHeat wave15$929K
Howard CountyVery LowLandslide9$859K
Mercer CountyVery LowLandslide--
Sullivan CountyVery LowLandslide-$329
Putnam CountyVery LowLandslide1$3,122
Worth CountyVery LowHeat wave--
Schuyler CountyVery LowLandslide--

Costliest hazards

Expected annual loss in Missouri, all counties combined

  • Heat wave$711M/yr · 5 counties high
  • Earthquake$463M/yr · 2 counties high
  • Tornado$450M/yr · 9 counties high
  • Cold wave$321M/yr · 8 counties high
  • Strong wind$123M/yr · 20 counties high
  • Hail$123M/yr · 4 counties high
  • Ice storm$57.09M/yr · 39 counties high
  • Drought$46.55M/yr · 6 counties high
  • Lightning$43.41M/yr · 11 counties high
  • Winter weather$14.98M/yr · 9 counties high

Storm events by type

Since 1996: 854 deaths, $11.97B in property and crop damage

  • Hail16,775
  • Thunderstorm Wind16,122 · 44 deaths
  • Flash Flood6,252 · 113 deaths
  • Flood4,578 · 47 deaths
  • Winter Storm3,097 · 19 deaths
  • Heat2,581 · 204 deaths
  • Drought2,483
  • Tornado1,784 · 274 deaths
  • Winter Weather1,572 · 33 deaths
  • Excessive Heat1,222 · 69 deaths
  • Heavy Rain1,045 · 2 deaths
  • Dense Fog1,043 · 5 deaths

Events per year

Storm events per year in Missouri

Most damaging storms

Since 2017, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage

  • TornadoEF0, 6.61 mi path, 1,750 yd wide05/16/2025

    Tower Grove, St. Louis city

    4 deaths, 38 injured, $1.6B damage

    What happened

    The tornado was its widest and strongest in St. Louis City. After it crossed into the City, the tornado caused major tree and structural damage in and around Forest Park and its northern neighborhoods. The then EF-3 tornado continued northeast into North St. Louis City where 4 individuals lost their lives. Continuing northeast still, the tornado began to weaken. Overall, thousands of buildings were damaged in St. Louis City costing an estimated $1.6 billion in damages.

  • Drought11/01/2022

    Douglas

    350 injured

    What happened

    Drought conditions improved across Morgan County by the end of November. The US Drought Monitor indicated that Abnormally Dry (D0) drought conditions remained at the end of the month after several rainfall events helped ease drought conditions below severe (D2) drought levels. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture with farm and stock ponds low but improved. Dry conditions caused grasses to dry and significantly impact hay production causing losses in hay cutting. Many farmers saw impacts to row crops such as soy beans, corn and other specialty crops.

  • Hail4.75" hail04/28/2026

    Republic, Greene County

    $318M damage

    What happened

    A hail swath from a mile to 3 miles wide began southwest of Republic and continued to the northeast across Greene County. Hail from quarters to 4.75 inches in size fell along a path from Republic to northwestern Springfield to Fair Grove as an intensifying left moving supercell moved to the northeast across the County. Along the storms path, numerous homes, vehicles, businesses, equipment, crops, livestock and other structures were damaged by hail before the storm passed into northwestern Webster County. ||As the storm moved across northwestern Springfield, it moved over the Springfield-Branson National Airport where 4 commuter jets, two cargo jets and up to 25 general aviation aircraft were on the TARMAC. Over 1200 vehicles were in the short and long term parking lot. The storm them moved over the Springfield Zoo killing an Emu and injuring another. At least two dozen people were injured by hail by being outside during the hail.

  • TornadoEF3, 17.13 mi path, 1,500 yd wide05/23/2019

    Scrivner, Cole County

    32 injured, $170M damage

    What happened

    A tornado crossed from Miller County (WFO Springfield���s County Warning Area) into Cole County at 1120 PM. As the tornado tracked to the northeast it crossed Lake Carmel and tore the roof off of a one story home on the northeast shore of the lake. Numerous trees were either snapped off or uprooted in the area as well. Damage to the home was rated EF2. Further northeast another one story home lost its roof on Highway D just northwest of intersection with Cole Brook Lane. Damage to this home was rated EF2. The tornado strengthened from an EF-2 to an EF-3 as it moved into a subdivision off of Heritage Highway just west of U.S. Highway 54, indicated by the complete collapse of a home and complete destruction of a double wide manufactured home. As the tornado moved northeast into the Jefferson City area it destroyed or greatly damaged a warehouse and car dealership, where at least 750 cars were totaled. As it moved into downtown Jefferson City, it caused severe damage to well made residential structures. The tornado crossed the Missouri River and entered Callaway County just to the east-northeast of Jefferson City. The tornado was rated EF3 in Cole County with a path length of...

  • Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/20/2018

    Notch, Stone County

    17 deaths

    What happened

    A line of severe thunderstorms producing 50 to 70 mph winds caused wind damage across Stone County. On Table Rock Lake, winds of over 60 mph led to high waves. An amphibious tourist vehicle sank with seventeen fatalities and numerous injuries reported.

  • Hail4" hail04/28/2026

    Verona, Lawrence County

    $120M damage

    What happened

    A hail swath from a mile to 3 miles wide began near southwest of Aurora and continued to the northeast across southeastern Lawrence County. Hail from quarters to softballs in size fell along a path from Aurora to Marionville as an intensifying left moving supercell moved to the northeast across the County. Along the storms path, numerous homes, vehicles, businesses, equipment, crops, livestock and other structures were damaged by hail before the storm passed into far western Christian County.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Storms whose track crossed the state, newest first

Flood insurance

National Flood Insurance Program policies and claims

10,574 homes in Missouri have flood insurance, about 0.4% of residential buildings. In high-risk flood zones, 7,660 of 40,540 homes (19%) are insured.

Flood claims paid per year in Missouri
  • Midwest Flooding$167M · 5,738 claims
  • Early winter storms$74.32M · 1,485 claims
  • Flooding$74.14M · 6,797 claims
  • Late spring severe storms$68.8M · 1,303 claims
  • Late July Flooding$46.07M · 648 claims
  • Hurricane Ike$41.28M · 1,069 claims

Drinking water

1,434 community water systems serve about 5,712,206 people

Since 2021, 219 systems reported 503 health-based violations. 374 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report. These had the most:

  • Clubb Villa Senior LivingServes 110 · Groundwater · Private23 health violations+18 monitoring or reporting
  • Monroe City PwsServes 2,500 · Surface water · Local government17 health violations+22 monitoring or reporting
  • Maysville PwsServes 1,096 · Purchased groundwater · Local government17 health violations+9 monitoring or reporting
  • Blodgett PwsServes 300 · Groundwater · Local government15 health violations+28 monitoring or reporting
  • Silex PwsServes 206 · Purchased surface water · Local government15 health violations+12 monitoring or reporting
  • Mo American IrontonServes 1,460 · Surface water · Private12 health violations
  • Louisiana PwsServes 3,244 · Surface water · Local government10 health violations+10 monitoring or reporting
  • Mosby PwsServes 93 · Purchased surface water · Local government10 health violations+7 monitoring or reporting

Select a county above to see every system that serves it.

Climate in the largest cities

1991-2020 normals from the nearest NOAA weather station

CityJuly highJan lowRainSnow
Kansas City90°F22°F38.1 in11.0 in
St. Louis90°F25°F43.9 in-
Springfield88°F23°F46.5 in-
Columbia89°F23°F44.8 in17.4 in
Independence87°F19°F44.7 in13.2 in
Lee's Summit88°F22°F38.3 in-
O'Fallon88°F21°F44.4 in13.5 in
St. Charles88°F22°F45.7 in9.0 in

Pollution sites

39 Superfund sites and 517 toxic release facilities

Superfund sites

All 39 in Missouri

Largest toxic releases

All 517 in Missouri

Facilities in Missouri reported 52.8 million lbs of toxic releases in 2024, 8.9 million lbs of it into the air.

Frequently asked questions

What is the biggest natural hazard in Missouri?
By expected annual loss, heat wave costs the most in Missouri ($711M a year), according to FEMA's National Risk Index.
How many storms hit Missouri each year?
NOAA recorded 64,216 storm events in Missouri since 1996, about 2,071 a year. The most common type is hail.
How many homes in Missouri have flood insurance?
10,574 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Missouri. Since 1978 the National Flood Insurance Program has paid $963M on 49,098 claims here.
How many Superfund sites are in Missouri?
Missouri has 39 Superfund sites on or deleted from EPA's National Priorities List.

Source: FEMA, NOAA, EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch each county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.