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Atchison County, Missouri

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
100th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$7Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Atchison County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 100th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,301 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2019 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 7 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.0 million on 146 claims here, including $2.3 million for floods in 2019.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Atchison County

$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Drought

Moderate
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$897,058 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low25.6
$3M
DroughtModerate90.3
$2M
TornadoLow43.6
$897K
Heat waveLow62.5
$589K
Cold waveLow38.2
$552K
HailLow60.3
$345K
Strong windLow22.5
$187K
LightningVery Low13.8
$43K
Ice stormLow27.4
$25K
Winter weatherLow25.5
$21K
EarthquakeVery Low14.2
$13K
WildfireVery Low28.8
$12K
LandslideLow76.8
$10K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Atchison County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood8
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 31, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2011FloodingEmergency
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 17, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 21
Dec 27, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jun 11, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 21, 1984Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 27, 1965Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 350 storm reports in Atchison County since 1954 and about $8.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 5, 1954.

19tornadoes
162hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
140damaging thunderstorm winds
28floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 5, 1954F4–0 / 0
May 31, 1954F2–0 / 0
Apr 23, 1955F2–0 / 0
May 23, 1966F2–0 / 0
May 8, 1996F1Highway 590 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 6, 2007FloodTarkio Gould Muni Ar$6M
Jun 25, 1994HailFairfax$550K
Sep 2, 1993HailTarkio$500K
Jul 23, 1997HailWatson$500K
Apr 5, 1954Tornado–$250K
Jun 5, 2008TornadoTarkio$210K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 18, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Atchison County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (7 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5 millionpaid on 146 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $2.3 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Atchison County

$106,800median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1957median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
82%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.4%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 2,726 housing units.

Compare in Missouri

All 115 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
St. Louis CountyHighHeat wave
Jackson CountyHighInland flooding
St. Charles CountyModerateInland flooding
St. Louis CityHighHeat wave
Greene CountyModerateInland flooding
Clay CountyModerateInland flooding
Jefferson CountyModerateInland flooding
Boone CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Nodaway CountyLow20
Otoe County, NEVery Low21
Page County, IAVery Low14
Nemaha County, NEVery Low24
Fremont County, IAVery Low17
Holt CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Atchison County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Atchison County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Atchison County, about $2.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Atchison County had?

Atchison County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in July 2019.

Is Atchison County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 100th highest of 115 in Missouri. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Atchison County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Atchison County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Atchison County had?

NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Atchison County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 5, 1954. The weather service has also logged 162 hail reports and 28 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.