Clark County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 30.5 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 83.3 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 55.2 | $553K | ||
| Tornado | 25.6 | $331K | ||
| Drought | 62.6 | $287K | ||
| Hail | 54.0 | $270K | ||
| Cold wave | 22.8 | $233K | ||
| Lightning | 44.7 | $168K | ||
| Earthquake | 32.8 | $84K | ||
| Wildfire | 47.4 | $35K | ||
| Winter weather | 17.7 | $13K | ||
| Ice storm | 17.8 | $11K | ||
| Landslide | 64.7 | $3K | ||
| Hurricane | 14.2 | $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
Most recent
Show all 25
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 1973 | F3 | – | 20 / 2 |
| May 13, 1995 | F2 | Arbela To | 3 / 0 |
| Dec 4, 2017 | EF2 | Wayland | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 1974 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 17, 2026 | EF1 | Alexandria | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Alexandria | $5M |
| May 1, 1973 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 8, 2003 | Hail | Revere | $1M |
| May 8, 2003 | Hail | Athens | $1M |
| Sep 13, 2008 | Flood | Anson | $1M |
| May 13, 1995 | Tornado | Arbela 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lee County, IA | 20 | |
| Hancock County, IL | 17 | |
| Lewis County | 25 | |
| Van Buren County, IA | 14 | |
| Scotland County | 22 | |
| Knox County | 24 |
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.