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Camden County, Missouri

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
8th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$62Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$46.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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
$4.1 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 13 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate93.3
$46M
TornadoModerate83.9
$4M
Heat waveModerate91.9
$3M
Cold waveModerate78.6
$3M
Ice stormVery High95.5
$1M
EarthquakeLow79.2
$1M
HailModerate77.6
$643K
Strong windModerate58.0
$573K
LightningModerate73.1
$459K
WildfireLow81.8
$405K
Winter weatherHigh91.4
$375K
LandslideModerate96.4
$177K
HurricaneVery Low41.2
$27K
DroughtLow31.6
$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

Severe Storm15
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm4
Drought1
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and WildfiresMajor 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
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Show all 26
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 27, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 15, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2006Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 9, 2000Camden Fire ComplexFire management
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & 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 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.

26tornadoes
272hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
219damaging thunderstorm winds
103floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 4, 2003F3Decaturville27 / 4
Apr 7, 1980F2–3 / 0
May 28, 1954F2–0 / 0
Oct 14, 1966F2–0 / 0
Oct 14, 1966F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 28, 2026HailDecaturville$60M
May 4, 2003TornadoDecaturville$6M
Apr 7, 1980Tornado–$3M
Aug 9, 2013FloodLinn Creek$2M
Dec 26, 2015FloodBeach$2M
May 8, 2023HailSunrise 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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1923most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 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 ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (224 policies)
13.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.7 millionpaid on 92 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $1.3 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 Camden County

$305,400median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
29%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.6%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; 40,072 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
Pulaski CountyLow23
Laclede CountyLow21
Miller CountyLow28
Morgan CountyLow26
Benton CountyLow19
Dallas CountyVery Low23
Hickory CountyVery Low21

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.