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Chariton County, Missouri

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

Very Low overall risk
85th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$8Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Chariton County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 71% of US counties. It ranks 85th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $8.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,150 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 22 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $821,000 on 57 claims here.

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

Top risks in Chariton County

$4.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$588,214 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow44.1
$5M
TornadoLow50.6
$1M
Heat waveLow63.1
$588K
Cold waveLow38.7
$554K
DroughtModerate73.0
$549K
HailLow51.0
$241K
EarthquakeVery Low42.0
$151K
LightningLow37.9
$131K
Strong windVery Low15.8
$118K
Winter weatherLow39.2
$39K
WildfireVery Low48.2
$38K
Ice stormLow29.5
$27K
HurricaneVery Low21.3
$6K
LandslideLow68.3
$4K

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm17
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2011FloodingEmergency
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 17, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 26
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jun 11, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 11, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Nov 1, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
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 263 storm reports in Chariton County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $16.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 4, 1977.

19tornadoes
108hail reports, largest 5 inches
94damaging thunderstorm winds
42floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 4, 1977F4–0 / 0
Jun 12, 1970F4–0 / 0
May 5, 1971F3–0 / 0
May 5, 1971F3–2 / 0
May 5, 1971F3–4 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 5, 1971Tornado–$3M
May 5, 1971Tornado–$3M
May 5, 1971Tornado–$3M
May 5, 1971Tornado–$3M
May 4, 1977Tornado–$3M
Apr 8, 1999TornadoTriplett$700K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 3, 2025. 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 Chariton County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (22 policies)
5.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$820,673paid on 57 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $291,627 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 Chariton County

$160,900median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.3%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; 3,788 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
Randolph CountyVery Low16
Saline CountyLow24
Macon CountyVery Low21
Livingston CountyVery Low21
Linn CountyVery Low21
Howard CountyVery Low27
Carroll CountyVery Low27

Common questions about Chariton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Chariton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Chariton County, about $4.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Chariton County had?

Chariton County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Chariton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 85th 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 Chariton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Chariton 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 Chariton County had?

NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Chariton County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 4, 1977. The weather service has also logged 108 hail reports and 42 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.