Carter County, MO Environment & Hazard Risk

• EarthquakeRelatively Low$1.3M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 128 years
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$2M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$8,403/yr expected annual loss, about 2.0 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$149K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$439K/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$471K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.4 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$198K/yr expected annual loss, about 58 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$24.5K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 517 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$29K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.7 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Low$518K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• HurricaneVery Low$9,150/yr expected annual loss, about once every 44 years
• DroughtVery Low$960/yr expected annual loss, about 4.1 events a year
• HailVery Low$18.8K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.4 events a year

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

37 of 3,058 (1.2%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

0

Flood claims since 1978

123

Claims paid since 1978

$5.4M

• Hail81
• Dense Fog78
• Thunderstorm Wind71 · 1 death
• Heat64
• Winter Weather62
• Strong Wind61
• Frost/Freeze54
• Drought46
• Flood32
• Flash Flood30 · 1 death

• TornadoF4, 20.5 mi path, 300 yd wide04/24/2002

  Van Buren, Carter County

  2 injured, $15M damage

  What happened

  The tornado damage path began on the west side of Van Buren, right along the Current River, and crossed U.S. Route 60 very close to the Current River bridge. Two businesses in Van Buren, a lodge and a restaurant, were heavily damaged by F-2 intensity winds. The tornado travelled southeast across hilly and forested terrain until reaching the community of Ellsinore. Damage on the south side of Ellsinore was severe, where about 7 businesses were destroyed. Most of the damage at Ellsinore, which was inflicted by F-4 intensity winds, occurred along and near U.S. Highway 60. Across Carter County, 13 homes were destroyed and 12 homes suffered major damage. The tornado then moved into the Mark Twain National Forest and crossed into Butler County north of Highway 60.

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind06/21/2019

  Van Buren, Carter County

  1 death, 2 injured, $20K damage

  What happened

  Within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, a tree fell on a boat on the Current River. The boat was traveling downstream in the vicinity of the Waymeyer Shute river access point. The 22-year-old male driver of the boat was killed, and two passengers in their 20's were moderately injured. The injured parties were from the local area and were treated at a local hospital. In the same general vicinity, trees and large tree limbs were down on the north end of M Highway.

• Flash Flood03/09/2006

  Ellsinore, Carter County

  1 death, $25K damage

  What happened

  Flash flooding of Ten Mile Creek caused the death of a 57-year-old man. The man drowned when the flat bed truck he was driving was swept off the road as he was attempting to cross the creek. The incident occurred on a private gravel road off Highway B. The truck was swept downstream about 50 yards and overturned in the creek, resting upside down. The body was recovered still in the truck. The incident was estimated to have happened around 6 A.M. CST when he attempted to drive across the creek to a hog barn.

• Flood05/01/2017

  Van Buren, Carter County

  $10M damage

  What happened

  A catastrophic flood on the Current River inflicted very heavy damage to Van Buren and the surrounding riverbank areas. The river crested over 8 feet above the record crest. Several hours before midnight on May 1, the river crested at 37.20 feet on the Van Buren river gage. The old record was 29.00 feet, set in March of 1904. About 238 homes were damaged or destroyed, about half of which were seasonal vacation homes. Whole houses were swept downriver. About 30 businesses were flooded. A large percentage of flood victims were evacuated to temporary shelters in Van Buren. The sheriff department in Van Buren literally floated about 100 feet off its foundation. Floodwaters were more than eight feet deep in the county courthouse. At least 30 water rescues were conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the National Park Service. A dusk-to-dawn curfew was enacted for residents of the city of Van Buren. Cell phone service was knocked out for a large portion of the area. The governor of Missouri toured the Van Buren area. The governor credited first responders with saving hundreds of lives by boat during the severe but relatively short-lived flood. Damage to public property,...

• Wildfire03/14/2025

  Carter

  $10M damage

  What happened

  The Turley 2 wildfire, located about 2 miles east northeast of Fremont in the Mark Twain National Forest, was reported by U.S. Forest Service personnel. Fanned by south southeast winds gusting 35-50mph through the evening, the fire burnt 94.5 acres before being completely extinguished. In addition to the gusty winds, response to the fire was hindered by a series of tornadic storms that swept across southeast Missouri later in the evening. A deadly EF-3 tornado ripped a path just west and north of Fremont.

• TornadoF2, 7.6 mi path, 200 yd wide04/24/2004

  Ellsinore, Carter County

  5 injured, $600K damage

  What happened

  The tornado touched down about one mile south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 60 and County Highway 233 in eastern Carter County. The tornado tracked north-northeast, passing only about a mile west of the town of Ellsinore. The tornado damage path ended on County Road 365 less than one half mile before reaching the Wayne County line. Peak winds in the tornado were estimated at 150 MPH. Most of the injured were in a mobile home on the north side of U.S. Highway 60. Their mobile home was picked up and thrown into some trees. One person was critically injured. The critically injured person was paralyzed when her back and neck was broken, and she was airlifted to a St. Louis area hospital. Another person received a broken arm, and most of the remaining injuries were scrapes and cuts. The tornado destroyed a total of three mobile homes, a storage facility, and numerous sheds. Two homes and one business were severely damaged. Numerous vehicles were damaged.

• Van Buren PwsServes 819 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Deer Run Reorganized Common Sewer DistServes 700 · Purchased groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Carter County Pwsd 1Serves 600 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Ellsinore PwsServes 500 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• Grandin PwsServes 240 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Carter County Pwsd 2Serves 50 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+6 monitoring or reporting