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Dunklin County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
15th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$31Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 53homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Dunklin County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 80% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $31 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,090 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and wildfires). About 1 in 53 homes here carry federal flood insurance (243 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $399,000 on 58 claims here.

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

Top risks in Dunklin County

Earthquake

Moderate
$18 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 75 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$3.9 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 18 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate96.4
$18M
Inland floodingLow42.7
$4M
Heat waveModerate89.6
$2M
TornadoModerate73.7
$2M
DroughtHigh94.2
$2M
Ice stormHigh95.0
$1M
Cold waveLow49.6
$676K
Strong windModerate57.5
$494K
LightningModerate63.5
$280K
Winter weatherModerate81.3
$163K
HurricaneVery Low46.5
$38K
HailVery Low13.7
$32K
WildfireVery Low7.8
$2K
LandslideVery Low29.4
$213

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and WildfiresMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, 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
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 20
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Apr 5, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1979Tornadoes, Torrential Rain & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 444 storm reports in Dunklin County since 1954, with 3 deaths and 39 injuries and about $36.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 22, 1981.

39tornadoes
149hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
215damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 22, 1981F4–26 / 0
Apr 2, 2006F3Senath0 / 0
Dec 10, 2021EF3Hornersville Mem Arp0 / 0
Nov 24, 1973F2–0 / 2
Feb 24, 2018EF2Wilhelmina5 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 22, 1981Tornado–$25M
Feb 24, 2018TornadoWilhelmina$2M
Apr 2, 2006TornadoSenath$2M
Apr 3, 2018TornadoArbyrd$2M
Dec 10, 2021TornadoHornersville Mem Arp$2M
May 1, 2011FloodGlennonville$500K

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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1906, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Dunklin County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1906, with top winds near 45 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1941most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph59 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 Dunklin County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (243 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$399,485paid on 58 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $122,101 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 Dunklin County

$97,600median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.3%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; 13,447 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
Craighead County, ARModerate26
Greene County, ARLow26
Butler CountyModerate21
Mississippi County, ARModerate19
Stoddard CountyLow24
New Madrid CountyLow26
Pemiscot CountyLow24
Clay County, ARLow23

Common questions about Dunklin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dunklin County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Dunklin County, about $18 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Dunklin County had?

Dunklin County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires in May 2025.

Is Dunklin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 15th 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 Dunklin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 53 homes in Dunklin 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 Dunklin County had?

NOAA records list 39 tornadoes in Dunklin County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 22, 1981. The weather service has also logged 149 hail reports and 37 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Dunklin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Dunklin County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1906, 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.