Wayne County, MO Environment & Hazard Risk

• EarthquakeRelatively Low$1.8M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 107 years
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$3M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$15.2K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.3 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$1M/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$180K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$1.5M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$59.8K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.7 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$375K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.8 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$23.7K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 865 years
• LightningRelatively Low$98.4K/yr expected annual loss, about 56 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$13.2K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 49 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$18.9K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.0 events a year
• HailVery Low$53K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.2 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

57 of 5,916 (1.0%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

667

Insured in high-risk zones

48 (7%)

Flood claims since 1978

141

Claims paid since 1978

$3.2M

• Hail102
• Flood93
• Dense Fog81
• Thunderstorm Wind74
• Heat64
• Winter Weather62
• Strong Wind62
• Frost/Freeze56
• Drought44
• Flash Flood38

• TornadoEF3, 5.47 mi path, 1,525 yd wide03/15/2025

  Gads Hill, Wayne County

  3 deaths, $4M damage

  What happened

  An EF-3 tornado touched down 4 miles northeast of Garwood in Reynolds County and proceeded northeast into northwest Wayne County southwest of Gads Hill. Thousands of trees were uprooted or snapped along its path through northwest Wayne County. Significant damage occurred in Gads Hill, where three houses and several manufactured homes and camper/trailer homes were destroyed or sustained significant damage. The estimated peak wind was 155 mph. Three people were killed when their homes were destroyed. The tornado continued to produce extensive tree damage as it progressed northeast to the Iron County line just southwest of Des Arc. The tornado passed through Iron County and into Madison County before lifting. The total path length of the tornado was 38 miles.

• TornadoEF3, 13.26 mi path, 325 yd wide03/15/2025

  Leeper, Wayne County

  2 deaths, $3M damage

  What happened

  An EF-3 tornado touched down just northeast of Eastwood in Carter County and moved quickly northeast to the Wayne County line just southwest of Leeper. The tornado destroyed 3 homes in Leeper, including completely wiping the slab clean on one. A nearby house had its roof mostly removed and another had some broken windows. Three manufactured homes and one barn were destroyed, as well. Two people died when their camper home was thrown into the Black river. The tornado did extensive tree damage with thousands either snapped or uprooted along its path. It continued northeast from Leeper until it dissipated at County Road 361 just west of Maddox Lake. The estimated peak wind was 165 mph. The total path length was around 31 miles.

• Flash Flood05/02/2011

  Wappapello, Wayne County

  $20M damage

  What happened

  The record high level of Lake Wappapello exceeded the height of the emergency spillway at Wappapello Dam. The uncontrolled flow of water over the spillway berm washed out a 400-foot section of Highway T, taking out millions of dollars of communications infrastructure. County Road 404 was washed out. At least two homes along County Road 404 were inundated with at least a foot of water and were accessible only by boat. Five homes were directly affected by the spillway breach.

• TornadoEF2, 11.98 mi path, 400 yd wide03/15/2025

  Burbank, Wayne County

  1 death, 1 injured, $1.5M damage

  What happened

  An EF-2 tornado touched down northeast of Greenville and moved northeast doing profound and extreme tree damage along its path. Thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado directly impacted the River Valley Campground on Hidden Valley Road near the Castor River, killing one person and severely injuring another. The most severe structural damage occurred near the campground where a home lost its roof and had most of its exterior walls collapsed in. Several vehicles were tossed 50 to 100 feet. Another nearby home also suffered heavy damage. Numerous outbuildings were destroyed and a wooden power pole was snapped. The estimated peak wind was 134 mph. From the campground the tornado continued northeast and quickly entered Bollinger County where it did EF-3 damage. The total path length was 28.6 miles.

• Heat07/26/1997

  Wayne

  12 injured

  What happened

  High temperatures were in the upper 90s to around 100 degrees for three consecutive days. High humidity pushed heat index values to between 105 and 115 degrees. An air conditioning unit failed on an office building in Cape Girardeau. Four overheated female employees in the office building were taken to a local hospital as a precaution. Area hospitals treated at least a dozen people for dehydration or other heat-related problems during the heat wave. The highest temperature at Cape Girardeau was 100 degrees during this heat wave.

• Flood03/18/2008

  Piedmont, Wayne County

  $9.2M damage

  What happened

  The hardest hit community during this historic flood was Piedmont. Between 200 and 300 homes and businesses were flooded in the town of about 2,000 residents. Severe flash flooding of McKenzie Creek inundated over one-third of the town. All buildings in southern Piedmont were flooded, along with homes within two blocks on either side of Main Street. All major roads were closed leading into Piedmont. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the entire town of Piedmont. Three law enforcement agencies rushed boats into the area to help with evacuations. Hundreds of people were evacuated, including some by boat. Shelters were opened at a church and a school for evacuees. Vehicles and propane tanks were among the items that littered roads after the floodwaters receded. The force of the floodwaters broke windows and even tore bricks off one building. A major water line was washed out, leaving Piedmont without water. Schools closed early, but students were held at the schools due to major flood hazards. Across the county, U.S. Highway 67 from Route 34 to Greenville was among five flooded sections of state highways that were closed. The county sheriff department received hundreds of...

• Piedmont PwsServes 1,987 · Surface water · Local government2 health violations+12 monitoring or reporting
• Wayne & Butler County Pwsd 4Serves 1,400 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Wayne County Pwsd 2Serves 950 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Greenville PwsServes 497 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Community Water SystemServes 378 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+33 monitoring or reporting
• Williamsville PwsServes 342 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Wayne County Pwsd 3Serves 300 · Purchased groundwater · Local government1 health violation+6 monitoring or reporting
• Ridgetop Waterworks Corp SubdivisionServes 227 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting