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Crawford County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
51st of 115highest risk in Missouri
$18Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Crawford County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 51st of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $799 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 21 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.1 million on 125 claims here, including $1.9 million for floods in 2015.

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

Top risks in Crawford County

$6.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.1 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow47.6
$6M
Cold waveModerate85.2
$5M
Heat waveModerate87.2
$2M
EarthquakeLow78.9
$1M
TornadoLow52.9
$1M
Strong windModerate61.5
$772K
Ice stormModerate81.6
$467K
HailLow51.0
$274K
LightningLow39.0
$155K
Winter weatherLow55.8
$79K
WildfireVery Low53.6
$58K
DroughtVery Low25.9
$14K
HurricaneVery Low30.2
$14K
LandslideLow74.2
$9K

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

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 1, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 22
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 15, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 2000Severe Thunderstorms and Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 1, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 356 storm reports in Crawford County since 1957, with 3 deaths and 7 injuries and about $27.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 14, 1974.

26tornadoes
152hail reports, largest 3 inches
136damaging thunderstorm winds
38floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 14, 1974F2–0 / 0
Dec 2, 1982F2–1 / 0
Apr 16, 1982F2–0 / 0
Jun 19, 2011EF2Keysville3 / 0
May 11, 2016EF2Bourbon0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Nov 15, 1988Tornado–$25M
Sep 13, 1993TornadoTo 1 E$505K
Dec 28, 2015FloodBourbon$500K
Jul 10, 2026Flash FloodFanning$500K
Apr 14, 1974Tornado–$250K
Dec 2, 1982Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1923, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Crawford County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 45 mph about 56 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1923most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Crawford County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (21 policies)
7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.1 millionpaid on 125 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $1.9 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 Crawford County

$172,600median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.8%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; 11,416 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
Franklin CountyModerate22
Phelps CountyLow23
Washington CountyLow26
Gasconade CountyVery Low19
Dent CountyLow16
Iron CountyLow25

Common questions about Crawford County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Crawford County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Crawford County, about $6.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $5.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Crawford County had?

Crawford County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Crawford County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 51st 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 Crawford County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Crawford 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 Crawford County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Crawford County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 14, 1974. The weather service has also logged 152 hail reports and 38 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Crawford County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Crawford County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with winds near 45 mph.

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.