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Cass County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
24th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$44Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Cass 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 24th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $44 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $411 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 March 2011 (severe winter storm and snowstorm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (102 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.4 million on 328 claims here.

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

Top risks in Cass County

$17.5 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$9.2 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
$6.3 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 floodingLow70.5
$17M
TornadoModerate89.9
$9M
Cold waveModerate84.4
$6M
Heat waveModerate88.9
$4M
HailModerate92.9
$3M
Strong windHigh91.3
$3M
LightningModerate64.6
$527K
EarthquakeVery Low54.4
$450K
Ice stormModerate74.3
$363K
Winter weatherModerate81.1
$291K
DroughtLow49.9
$186K
WildfireVery Low29.5
$18K
HurricaneVery Low17.8
$6K
LandslideVery Low51.6
$2K

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 low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
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
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jun 11, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 11, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 26, 1982Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 7, 1977Tornadoes & 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 812 storm reports in Cass County since 1955, with 4 deaths and 33 injuries and about $36.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 4, 1977.

41tornadoes
382hail reports, largest 5 inches
315damaging thunderstorm winds
71floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 4, 1977F3–15 / 2
Apr 12, 1964F3–10 / 1
Apr 12, 1964F3–0 / 0
Apr 15, 1960F3–0 / 0
May 15, 1968F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 4, 1977Tornado–$25M
Apr 16, 1995HailHarrisonville$3M
Apr 12, 1964Tornado–$3M
Apr 12, 1964Tornado–$3M
May 9, 2003TornadoFreeman$1M
Apr 9, 1995HailBelton$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 Cass County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (102 policies)
28.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.4 millionpaid on 328 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $1.6 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 Cass County

$292,400median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1992median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
34%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.7%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; 45,834 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
Jackson CountyHigh24
Johnson County, KSHigh10
Johnson CountyLow19
Miami County, KSLow14
Henry CountyLow18
Bates CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Cass County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Cass County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cass County, about $17.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $9.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Cass County had?

Cass 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 Winter Storm and Snowstorm in March 2011.

Is Cass County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 24th 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 Cass County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Cass 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 Cass County had?

NOAA records list 41 tornadoes in Cass County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 4, 1977. The weather service has also logged 382 hail reports and 71 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.