Camden County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Camden County, Missouri has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 88% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $62 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,444 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (224 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.7 million on 92 claims here, including $1.3 million 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 Camden 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.
- 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 93.3 | $46M | ||
| Tornado | 83.9 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 91.9 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 78.6 | $3M | ||
| Ice storm | 95.5 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 79.2 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 77.6 | $643K | ||
| Strong wind | 58.0 | $573K | ||
| Lightning | 73.1 | $459K | ||
| Wildfire | 81.8 | $405K | ||
| Winter weather | 91.4 | $375K | ||
| Landslide | 96.4 | $177K | ||
| Hurricane | 41.2 | $27K | ||
| Drought | 31.6 | $25K |
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 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 Camden County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 26
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 644 storm reports in Camden County since 1954, with 5 deaths and 42 injuries and about $81.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 4, 2003 near Decaturville.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2003 | F3 | Decaturville | 27 / 4 |
| Apr 7, 1980 | F2 | – | 3 / 0 |
| May 28, 1954 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 14, 1966 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 14, 1966 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2026 | Hail | Decaturville | $60M |
| May 4, 2003 | Tornado | Decaturville | $6M |
| Apr 7, 1980 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 9, 2013 | Flood | Linn Creek | $2M |
| Dec 26, 2015 | Flood | Beach | $2M |
| May 8, 2023 | Hail | Sunrise Beach | $2M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1923, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Camden County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 40 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 1923 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 59 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 1923 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 59 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Camden 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 Camden 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; 40,072 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | 23 | |
| Laclede County | 21 | |
| Miller County | 28 | |
| Morgan County | 26 | |
| Benton County | 19 | |
| Dallas County | 23 | |
| Hickory County | 21 |
Common questions about Camden County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Camden County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Camden County, about $46.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Camden County had?
Camden County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Camden County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 8th 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 Camden County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Camden 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 Camden County had?
NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Camden County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 4, 2003 near Decaturville. The weather service has also logged 272 hail reports and 103 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Camden County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Camden County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with winds near 40 mph.
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.