Barry County, MO Environment & Hazard Risk

• Ice stormRelatively High$1.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.6 events a year
• Strong windRelatively High$1.4M/yr expected annual loss, about 6.2 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$4.6M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$1.6M/yr expected annual loss, about 14 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$158K/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$510K/yr expected annual loss, about 58 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$7,547/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$2M/yr expected annual loss, about 2.0 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$515K/yr expected annual loss, about 9.1 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$709K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 549 years
• WildfireRelatively Low$126K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 734 years
• HailRelatively Low$393K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.7 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$45.7K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 93 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, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

6 of 19,055 (0.0%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

771

Insured in high-risk zones

6 (1%)

Flood claims since 1978

53

Claims paid since 1978

$2.1M

• Hail292
• Thunderstorm Wind276
• Flash Flood186
• Flood90
• Tornado36 · 2 deaths
• Drought36
• Heavy Rain35
• Winter Storm32
• Winter Weather17 · 1 death
• High Wind10

• Hail3" hail04/28/2026

  Wheaton, Barry County

  $95.4M damage

  What happened

  A hail swath from a mile to 3 miles wide began near Wheaton and continued to the northeast across Barry County. Hail from quarters to 3 inches in size fell along a path from Wheaton to Purdy to Pleasant Ridge 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 southeastern Lawrence County.

• TornadoEF2, 15.62 mi path, 200 yd wide05/11/2008

  Pioneer, Barry County

  1 death, $10M damage

  What happened

  This tornado is an extension of the Newton County tornado. A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-2 tornado tracked across much of Barry County and directly impacted the community of Purdy. One man was killed as he was taking shelter in a mobile home. Numerous structures, trees, and power poles were destroyed.

• TornadoEF2, 1.7 mi path, 400 yd wide02/29/2012

  Exeter, Barry County

  1 death, 4 injured, $575K damage

  What happened

  An EF-2 rated tornado with a maximum wind speed of 120 mph tracked across northwestern portions of the city of Cassville. The tornado destroyed four mobile homes and one frame home. Another frame home was significantly damaged. This tornado also flipped over a tractor trailer as it crossed Highway 37. The tornado killed one person in a mobile home. There were four other injuries.

• Winter Weather12/16/2019

  Barry

  1 death, 1 injured

  What happened

  Several rounds of precipitation fell across the county during the day and evening hours. Rain, freezing rain and snow all occurred producing a glaze of ice and a dusting of snow that caused roads to become icy. There was 1 fatality as a vehicle lost control on an ice covered roadway and struck a pedestrian that was standing near another vehicle that had crashed prior to this incident.

• Drought08/01/2011

  Barry

  $10.1M damage

  What happened

  The U.S Drought Monitor reported Severe Drought (D2) throughout the month of August. While the region received some rainfall during the month, the coverage was limited across portions of southwestern Missouri. As a result of the limited rainfall combined with the excessive heat, the USDA Service center in Barry County indicated that crop losses were as high as 75 percent of the spring planting. Significant stress to area livestock caused losses to several chicken farms as well. Many farmers and ranchers reported having to feed hay as pastures stopped growing and became dry through the month, which is several months early.

• Lightning06/26/2015

  Scholten, Barry County

  1 death, $5,000 damage

  What happened

  A man died after being hit by lightning near Seymour. Two horses were also killed by the lightning strike. The man was cultivating a field at the time of the strike. Time was estimated.

• Monett PwsServes 9,789 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Cassville PwsServes 3,290 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Southwest Rural Water District 1Serves 2,700 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Purdy PwsServes 1,100 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Seligman PwsServes 890 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Exeter PwsServes 800 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Wheaton PwsServes 698 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Butterfield PwsServes 528 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting