Shannon County, MO Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Low natural hazard risk, led by cold wave. 543 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $12.14M
- Very Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 543
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 4
- 0.1% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- 2 tropical storms or stronger since 1923
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Low
Score 57.5 of 100
Social vulnerability
Very High
Score 89.8 of 100
Community resilience
Very Low
Score 5.2 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $1.81B · Agriculture value exposed: $14.94M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $20.51M
Risk by hazard
- Cold waveRelatively High$5.37M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.9 events a year
- LandslideRelatively Low$10.97K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.3 events a year
- EarthquakeRelatively Low$779K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 179 years
- Heat waveRelatively Low$718K/yr expected annual loss, about 12 events a year
- Strong windRelatively Moderate$633K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.7 events a year
- Ice stormRelatively Moderate$144K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
- WildfireVery Low$54.66K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 404 years
- Winter weatherRelatively Low$33.27K/yr expected annual loss, about 10 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Low$645K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- LightningRelatively Low$80.58K/yr expected annual loss, about 57 events a year
- HurricaneVery Low$8,745/yr expected annual loss, about once every 51 years
- HailVery Low$17.6K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.7 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, drought, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 4 of 4,469 (0.1%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 0
- Flood claims since 1978
- 18
- Claims paid since 1978
- $158K
Flood claims paid per year
- March storm$22.91K · 5 claims
- Mid-spring storms$20.02K · 2 claims
- Late spring severe storms$15.4K · 3 claims
Storm history
Since 1996: 543 events, 3 deaths, $34.97M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind137 · 1 death
- Hail123
- Flood82
- Flash Flood75 · 2 deaths
- Winter Storm30
- Drought22
- Tornado16
- Heavy Rain14
- Winter Weather12
- Heat9
Events per year
23 tornadoes on record (EF0 5, EF1 3, EF2 2, EF3 2, F0 5, F1 4, F2 1, F3 1).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- TornadoEF2, 17.4 mi path, 880 yd wide05/08/2009
Blue Spgs, Shannon County
$13.05M damage
What happened
This tornado is a continuation of the southeastern Texas County tornado. A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-2 tornado entered rural west central Shannon County from southeastern Texas County. This tornado tracked across forested areas of west central and central Shannon County, uprooting and snapping numerous trees. The Missouri Department of Conservation announced that the tornado and other high winds from this event resulted in $13M of damage to trees. The tornado also damaged a sawmill along its path.
- Flash Flood07/05/2011
Bartlett, Shannon County
1 death, $2,000 damage
What happened
A Shannon County resident was swept off a low water bridge during the early morning hours of July 5th after isolated thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall causing a small stream to become swollen and overflow its banks. The driver attempted to drive over the flooded low water bridge and was swept nearly 150 yards down stream where his car and body were found on July 13th.
- Flash Flood04/10/2008
Cedargrove, Shannon County
1 death
What happened
One to three inches of rain fell over Shannon County. All low areas that typically flood during periods of excessive rainfall were flooded. A 14 year old male attempted to cross a flooded creek in extreme northeast Shannon County near the community of Bunker. He lost grip of a cable he was using to keep stable in the swift flowing water. He was swept downstream where he drowned.
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind08/08/2011
Winona, Shannon County
1 death
What happened
A man was killed from a tree that fell on his car while driving. This occurred on County Road 440 one tenth of a mile west of Highway 19 about 3 miles north of Winona.
- Flash Flood11/04/2024
Rat, Shannon County
$8.8M damage
What happened
Route P at Big Creek was closed due to flooding. Additional county property damages were reported throughout the entire county, primarily to dirt roads and bridges, with many facilities, campgrounds, and river access points sustained damage to the Scenic Riverway parks. Damage cost estimates are a reflection of the county as a whole. Unprecedented river levels caused devastating impacts to facilities at Akers and Pulltite. The Akers Ranger Station, which also houses Akers Ferry Canoe Rental, had approximately two feet of water throughout. The old Akers Ferry Canoe Rental store was almost fully submerged, sustaining significant damage.| |At Pulltite Campground, water reached the roof of the Pulltite Ranger Station and adjoining shower house, causing tremendous destruction. Approximately two feet of water entered the Current River Canoe Rental Store. The Pulltite picnic pavilion was swept away and destroyed. The campground amphitheater was toppled off its foundation. Floodwater lifted thick chunks of asphalt from the campground roads, undercut the roadway in multiple places, scoured campsites, and mangled or relocated posts, picnic tables, fire rings, and other structures. Large...
- Flash Flood04/29/2017
Eminence, Shannon County
$5M damage
What happened
Numerous campgrounds and river access areas were severely damaged across Shannon County and in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways Park. Numerous homes and businesses were severely damage or washed away along the Jack Fork River and Current River. This report will contain the total dollar estimate for flood damage to infrastructure, businesses, and homes across Shannon County.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind08/01/2026
Timber, Shannon County
- TornadoEF0, 2.7 mi path, 200 yd wide06/22/2026
Munsett, Shannon County
$20K damage
- TornadoEF0, 3.37 mi path, 150 yd wide04/28/2026
Gang, Shannon County
- Drought04/01/2026
Shannon
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind03/15/2026
Bartlett, Shannon County
$500 damage
- Hail1" hail03/15/2026
Akers, Shannon County
- TornadoEF0, 0.18 mi path, 75 yd wide03/15/2026
Blue Spgs, Shannon County
$10K damage
- TornadoEF1, 1.43 mi path, 250 yd wide03/15/2026
Akers, Shannon County
$40K damage
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed Shannon County, with the wind when it passed
- Hurricane Ike (2008)09/01/2008 · Landfall: TX · 935 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1923)10/12/1923 · Landfall: LA · 983 mbTropical storm52 mph nearby
Drinking water
3 community water systems serve about 2,694 people. Violations since 2021.
None of the systems serving this county had a health-based violation in this period.
- Winona PwsServes 1,315 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
- Eminence PwsServes 700 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
- Birch Tree PwsServes 679 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Eminence 1 N
Summer highs peak around 92°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 21°F in Jan. About 47.3 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 6.0 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 21°F | 2.77 in | 2.3 in |
| Feb | 51°F | 24°F | 2.86 in | 1.9 in |
| Mar | 61°F | 32°F | 4.53 in | 1.3 in |
| Apr | 71°F | 42°F | 5.26 in | - |
| May | 80°F | 54°F | 5.58 in | - |
| Jun | 87°F | 62°F | 4.01 in | - |
| Jul | 92°F | 65°F | 4.13 in | - |
| Aug | 91°F | 64°F | 3.79 in | - |
| Sep | 83°F | 56°F | 3.77 in | - |
| Oct | 73°F | 42°F | 3.44 in | - |
| Nov | 60°F | 32°F | 3.94 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 48°F | 24°F | 3.25 in | 0.4 in |
| Year | 57°F average | 47.3 in | 6.0 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 1 toxic release facility in Shannon County
Superfund sites
None in this county.
Toxic release facilities
- Royal Oak Enterprises-Summersville539 lbs released, Summersville
Total: 539 lbs in 2024, 539 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk2 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Shannon County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Shannon County relatively low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $12.14M a year. The highest-rated hazards are cold wave (relatively high), landslide (relatively low), earthquake (relatively low).
- What storms are most common in Shannon County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 543 storm events affecting Shannon County, most often thunderstorm wind (137), hail (123), flood (82).
- How many tornadoes have hit Shannon County?
- 23 tornadoes have been recorded in Shannon County since 1950, including 3 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
- How many homes in Shannon County have flood insurance?
- 4 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Shannon County, covering about 0.1% of homes. The program has paid $158K on 18 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Shannon County?
- At Eminence 1 N, average highs reach 92°F in Jul and lows fall to 21°F in Jan, with 47.3 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.