Clay County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Clay County, Missouri has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 90% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $113 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $445 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2019 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (258 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $11 million on 799 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Clay 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 87.8 | $43M | ||
| Cold wave | 97.7 | $26M | ||
| Tornado | 96.2 | $21M | ||
| Heat wave | 96.7 | $12M | ||
| Hail | 97.4 | $7M | ||
| Strong wind | 58.8 | $964K | ||
| Lightning | 75.9 | $845K | ||
| Earthquake | 63.7 | $763K | ||
| Ice storm | 81.8 | $642K | ||
| Winter weather | 78.7 | $266K | ||
| Wildfire | 69.1 | $225K | ||
| Drought | 43.5 | $125K | ||
| Landslide | 76.0 | $14K |
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 very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Clay County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 23
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 961 storm reports in Clay County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 34 injuries and about $126 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 4, 2003 near Gladstone.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2003 | F4 | Gladstone | 13 / 0 |
| May 4, 1977 | F4 | – | 5 / 0 |
| May 4, 2003 | F4 | Gladstone | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 2008 | EF3 | Liberty Mitchell Arp | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 26, 1969 | F3 | – | 3 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2003 | Tornado | Liberty | $60M |
| May 4, 2003 | Tornado | Gladstone | $31M |
| May 2, 2008 | Tornado | Gashland | $10M |
| May 11, 2000 | Tornado | North Kansas City | $5M |
| Oct 4, 1998 | Flash Flood | Mosby | $4M |
| May 2, 2008 | Tornado | Liberty Mitchell Arp | $4M |
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 Clay 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 Clay 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; 107,719 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 24 | |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 24 | |
| Platte County | 24 | |
| Ray County | 31 | |
| Clinton County | 20 |
Cities in Clay County
Common questions about Clay County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Clay County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clay County, about $43.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $26.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Clay County had?
Clay County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in July 2019.
Is Clay County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 7th 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 Clay County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Clay 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 Clay County had?
NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Clay County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 4, 2003 near Gladstone. The weather service has also logged 463 hail reports and 81 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.