Benton County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Benton County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 34th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $876 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 15 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $318,000 on 38 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Benton County
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 67.4 | $8M | ||
| Strong wind | 98.0 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 74.7 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 61.4 | $974K | ||
| Heat wave | 78.2 | $902K | ||
| Lightning | 81.1 | $495K | ||
| Drought | 76.2 | $483K | ||
| Earthquake | 59.4 | $288K | ||
| Ice storm | 79.9 | $263K | ||
| Hail | 56.1 | $217K | ||
| Wildfire | 69.5 | $110K | ||
| Winter weather | 67.8 | $79K | ||
| Hurricane | 27.9 | $8K | ||
| Landslide | 68.4 | $3K |
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 very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Benton County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 19
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 568 storm reports in Benton County since 1954, with 7 deaths and 53 injuries and about $8.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 15, 1982.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 1982 | F3 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 1973 | F3 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 1973 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 1960 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 28, 1954 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 1982 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Apr 15, 1994 | Tornado | Warsaw To | $500K |
| Apr 15, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Warsaw | $500K |
| Jul 1, 2015 | Tornado | Racket | $500K |
| Apr 17, 2026 | Tornado | Tackner | $425K |
| Jul 5, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $350K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 Benton County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Benton County
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; 13,594 housing units.
Compare in Missouri
All 115 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | Heat wave | |
| Jackson County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Charles County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Louis City | Heat wave | |
| Greene County | Inland flooding | |
| Clay County | Inland flooding | |
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Boone County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Pettis County | 19 | |
| Camden County | 26 | |
| Henry County | 18 | |
| Morgan County | 26 | |
| St. Clair County | 22 | |
| Hickory County | 21 |
Common questions about Benton County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Benton County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Benton County, about $7.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $3.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Benton County had?
Benton County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2023.
Is Benton County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 34th 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 Benton County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Benton 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 Benton County had?
NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Benton County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 15, 1982. The weather service has also logged 181 hail reports and 130 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.