Jasper County, MO Environment & Hazard Risk

• Ice stormVery High$2.26M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• TornadoRelatively High$13.32M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$5.38M/yr expected annual loss, about 16 events a year
• DroughtRelatively High$2.04M/yr expected annual loss, about 12 events a year
• HailRelatively Moderate$1.89M/yr expected annual loss, about 7.5 events a year
• LightningRelatively High$1.12M/yr expected annual loss, about 56 events a year
• Strong windRelatively High$1.91M/yr expected annual loss, about 6.0 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively High$339K/yr expected annual loss, about 10 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$1.51M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 634 years
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$2.2M/yr expected annual loss, about 2.2 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Low$133K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,119 years
• HurricaneVery Low$27.84K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• LandslideVery Low$387/yr expected annual loss, about once every 8 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

121 of 49,714 (0.2%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

776

Insured in high-risk zones

93 (12%)

Flood claims since 1978

175

Claims paid since 1978

$2.86M

• Thunderstorm Wind350
• Hail270
• Flash Flood157 · 1 death
• Flood85 · 2 deaths
• Drought38
• Heavy Rain32
• Winter Storm27
• Tornado24 · 164 deaths
• Winter Weather19 · 1 death
• Lightning18 · 2 deaths

• TornadoEF5, 8.8 mi path, 1,600 yd wide05/22/2011

  Central City, Jasper County

  161 deaths, 1,150 injured, $2.8B damage

  What happened

  National Weather Service survey teams rated the tornado that tracked across the southwest through east central portion of Joplin, Missouri, as an EF5 tornado. Maximum winds were estimated to have exceeded 200 miles per hour. The tornado had a maximum width of one mile and an overall path length of nearly 21.6 miles, nearly nine miles of which occurred in Jasper County.||The tornado killed 158 directly, three indirectly, and injured over 1150 people. Sadly, on May 24 a police officer who was volunteering from another department, was struck by lightning while serving in the response efforts and later died. Equally, a 56 year old man who had been included as a direct fatality was later determined to have died of a heart attack. Over 10,200 people filed for disaster assistance following the tornado.||The EF-5 rating (greater than 200 mph wind speeds) was mainly arrived at by the total destruction of vehicles, including some vehicles tossed several blocks and semi trucks thrown a quarter of a mile. Parking stops weighing over 300 pounds and re-barred into asphalt were uprooted and tossed. Other factors in the rating included damage to reinforced concrete structures, and that...

• TornadoF3, 5 mi path, 880 yd wide05/05/2003

  Carl Jct, Jasper County

  2 deaths, 15 injured, $21.2M damage

  What happened

  This tornado is a continuation of the Cherokee County, Kansas tornado. This feature crossed the Kansas-Missouri state line near the community of Smithfield, and then wreaked havoc through the center of Carl Junction. Around 112 homes and outbuildings were destroyed while 487 were damaged. The tornado claimed the lives of two local residents and injuring 15.Kenneth and Ethel LaNear ages 71 and 62, were taking shelter in a closet of their frame home when the tornado struck. Both were deceased from being struck into the ground and hit by flying debris.

• Drought08/01/2012

  Jasper

  $32.15M damage

  What happened

  The U.S Drought Monitor continued to report Extreme Drought (D3) to Exceptional Drought (D4) throughout the month of August. The region started seeing some rainfall by the end of the month. The COOP station near Carthage reported 5.43 of rainfall for the month of August. The Joplin ASOS reported 3.13 of rainfall for the month of August. This is a continuation of the drought that began across the region in June. As a result of the limited rainfall combined with the excessive heat, the USDA Service center in Jasper County indicated that crop losses were 75 percent of the spring planting. Many farmers and ranchers reported having to feed hay as pastures stopped growing and became dry through the month which added to operation costs. Monetary crop loss figures are estimates using information from the National Agricultural Statistics database, local FSA and USDA offices and other local, state or federal agency information. Livestock losses, if they occurred or were reported are listed in the property section.

• Heat07/23/1999

  Jasper

  3 deaths

  What happened

  A prolonged period of excessive heat occurred in central, southwest, and south central Missouri. Afternoon high temperatures during this period averaged 95 degrees or higher with heat index values of 105 to 115 degrees. Six deaths were attributed to the heat: Three in Jasper County and one each in Greene, McDonald, and Vernon Counties.

• TornadoF1, 2.5 mi path, 200 yd wide04/28/1996

  Joplin, Jasper County

  12 injured, $12M damage

  What happened

  An F1 tornado struck the south and southeast part of Joplin along the Jasper and Newton county line. The damage path was centered one-half mile north of the intersection of South Range Line Road and I-44. Eight businesses were heavily damaged, including three hotels. A dozen other businesses suffered minor damage, such as broken winds and trees downed on roofs. Minor wind damage, mostly confined to trees and signs down, occurred throughout the rest of the city.

• TornadoEF1, 3.02 mi path, 440 yd wide05/11/2008

  Kendricktown, Jasper County

  1 death, 10 injured, $1M damage

  What happened

  A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-1 tornado impacted rural areas east of Carthage. One fatality occurred from a large tree falling on a mobile home. A 17 year old female was struck by the tree when taking cover. Five other homes had moderate damage while numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. Several outbuildings were also destroyed.

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/05/2026

  Sarcoxie, Jasper County

  $7,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/05/2026

  Parshley, Jasper County

• Flash Flood06/26/2026

  Carl Jct, Jasper County

• Hail1" hail06/26/2026

  Joplin, Jasper County

• Flood06/14/2026

  Jasper, Jasper County

• Flood06/14/2026

  Gulfton, Jasper County

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind06/14/2026

  Joplin, Jasper County

  $20K damage

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind06/14/2026

  Atlas, Jasper County

  $5,000 damage

• Mo American JoplinServes 73,728 · Surface water · PrivateNo health violations
• Carthage PwsServes 14,600 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Webb City PwsServes 13,404 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Barton Dade Cedar Jasp Countycons Pwsd 1Serves 9,523 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Carl Junction PwsServes 8,142 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Jasper County Pwsd 1Serves 5,500 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Jasper County Pwsd 2Serves 3,383 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Oronogo PwsServes 2,719 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting