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Barry County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
23rd of 115highest risk in Missouri
$30Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Barry County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 75% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $30 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $869 per resident. Since 1974 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.1 million on 53 claims here, including $837,000 for floods in 2015.

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

Top risks in Barry County

$16.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.6 million 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate79.4
$17M
TornadoModerate85.0
$5M
Cold waveModerate72.0
$2M
Heat waveModerate83.1
$2M
Strong windHigh85.7
$1M
Ice stormHigh93.2
$1M
EarthquakeLow70.4
$709K
DroughtModerate71.9
$515K
LightningModerate74.3
$510K
HailLow64.9
$393K
Winter weatherModerate76.8
$158K
WildfireLow67.6
$126K
HurricaneVery Low46.4
$46K
LandslideLow74.1
$8K

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm18
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 9, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 6, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 27
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
May 23, 2008Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 15, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1994Severe Storms, Tornadoes, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Severe 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 1,030 storm reports in Barry County since 1954, with 5 deaths and 51 injuries and about $139 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 24, 1954.

51tornadoes
351hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
323damaging thunderstorm winds
267floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 24, 1954F3–2 / 0
May 10, 2008EF2Pioneer0 / 1
Nov 15, 1988F2–12 / 1
Feb 29, 2012EF2Exeter4 / 1
Apr 12, 1972F2–7 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 28, 2026HailWheaton$95M
May 10, 2008TornadoPioneer$10M
Dec 26, 2015Flash FloodMc Dowell$5M
May 8, 2009Thunderstorm WindMonett Friend Arpt$4M
Nov 15, 1988Tornado–$3M
Apr 12, 1972Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 22, 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 Barry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
0.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.1 millionpaid on 53 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $837,070 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 Barry County

$187,800median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.5%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; 17,063 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
Benton County, ARModerate23
Newton CountyLow27
Lawrence CountyLow18
Stone CountyLow22
Carroll County, ARLow19
McDonald CountyLow24

Common questions about Barry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Barry County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Barry County, about $16.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Barry County had?

Barry County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1974, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2025.

Is Barry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 23rd 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 Barry County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Barry County had?

NOAA records list 51 tornadoes in Barry County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 24, 1954. The weather service has also logged 351 hail reports and 267 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.