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Daviess County, Missouri

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

Very Low overall risk
84th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$7Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Daviess County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 70% of US counties. It ranks 84th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $7.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $881 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). No homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $609,000 on 37 claims here.

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

Top risks in Daviess County

$3.2 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.
$1.2 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.

Drought

Moderate
$922,732 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 18 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow36.2
$3M
TornadoLow56.6
$1M
DroughtModerate84.8
$923K
Cold waveLow51.5
$763K
Heat waveLow67.1
$601K
HailLow58.3
$270K
Strong windLow35.4
$268K
LightningLow29.1
$79K
WildfireVery Low51.7
$39K
EarthquakeVery Low23.0
$28K
Winter weatherLow26.2
$19K
Ice stormVery Low22.4
$15K
LandslideLow66.0
$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 high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Severe Ice Storm4
Flood3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 31, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 17, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 27, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 22
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jun 11, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 11, 2004Severe 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
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Nov 1, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 27, 1965Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 357 storm reports in Daviess County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $4.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 29, 2004 near Pattonsburg.

21tornadoes
151hail reports, largest 4 inches
141damaging thunderstorm winds
43floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 29, 2004F4Pattonsburg0 / 0
Jun 7, 1984F2–1 / 0
Jun 7, 1984F2–0 / 0
Apr 10, 1965F2–0 / 0
Apr 21, 1967F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 7, 1984Tornado–$3M
Apr 14, 1994Thunderstorm WindJamesport$500K
May 6, 2007FloodCivil Bend$500K
Jun 7, 2009HailAltamont$500K
May 12, 1978Tornado–$250K
Jun 7, 1984Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 18, 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 Daviess County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$608,571paid on 37 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $556,882 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 Daviess County

$161,800median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.5%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; 4,122 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
Livingston CountyVery Low21
DeKalb CountyVery Low20
Grundy CountyVery Low20
Caldwell CountyVery Low22
Harrison CountyVery Low17
Gentry CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Daviess County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Daviess County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Daviess County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Daviess County had?

Daviess County has been included in 22 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 August 2026.

Is Daviess County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 84th 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 Daviess County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Daviess County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Daviess County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 29, 2004 near Pattonsburg. The weather service has also logged 151 hail reports and 43 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.