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Clark County, Missouri

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

Very Low overall risk
99th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$7Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Clark County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 78% of US counties. It ranks 99th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $6.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,011 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 28 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.6 million on 106 claims here, including $5.2 million for floods in 2019.

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

Top risks in Clark County

$3.1 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Strong wind

Moderate
$553,370 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low30.5
$3M
Heat waveModerate83.3
$2M
Strong windModerate55.2
$553K
TornadoVery Low25.6
$331K
DroughtLow62.6
$287K
HailLow54.0
$270K
Cold waveVery Low22.8
$233K
LightningLow44.7
$168K
EarthquakeVery Low32.8
$84K
WildfireVery Low47.4
$35K
Winter weatherVery Low17.7
$13K
Ice stormVery Low17.8
$11K
LandslideLow64.7
$3K
HurricaneVery Low14.2
$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 relatively moderate and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm14
Flood6
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 21, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
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
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 25
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe 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
Mar 12, 1979Ice Jam & FloodingEmergency
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jun 10, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 14, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 342 storm reports in Clark County since 1960, with 3 deaths and 24 injuries and about $17.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 1, 1973.

17tornadoes
103hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
135damaging thunderstorm winds
80floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 1, 1973F3–20 / 2
May 13, 1995F2Arbela To3 / 0
Dec 4, 2017EF2Wayland1 / 0
Apr 13, 1974F2–0 / 0
Jun 17, 2026EF1Alexandria0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 25, 2003Thunderstorm WindAlexandria$5M
May 1, 1973Tornado–$3M
May 8, 2003HailRevere$1M
May 8, 2003HailAthens$1M
Sep 13, 2008FloodAnson$1M
May 13, 1995TornadoArbela To$630K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 17, 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 Clark County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (28 policies)
5.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7.6 millionpaid on 106 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $5.2 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 Clark County

$130,700median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15%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; 3,233 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
Lee County, IALow20
Hancock County, ILVery Low17
Lewis CountyVery Low25
Van Buren County, IAVery Low14
Scotland CountyVery Low22
Knox CountyVery Low24

Common questions about Clark County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Clark County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clark County, about $3.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Clark County had?

Clark County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2023.

Is Clark County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 99th 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 Clark County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Clark 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 Clark County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Clark County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 1, 1973. The weather service has also logged 103 hail reports and 80 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.