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Harrison County, Missouri

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

Very Low overall risk
86th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$7Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Harrison County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 71% of US counties. It ranks 86th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $895 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 2 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Harrison County

$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 17 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low28.1
$2M
DroughtHigh90.6
$1M
TornadoLow58.1
$1M
Cold waveLow52.9
$803K
Heat waveLow66.6
$592K
Strong windLow44.5
$354K
HailLow55.9
$249K
WildfireVery Low60.1
$63K
LightningVery Low20.8
$54K
EarthquakeVery Low25.7
$36K
Winter weatherLow32.9
$26K
Ice stormVery Low18.9
$11K
LandslideLow74.5
$7K
HurricaneVery Low11.2
$2K

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 Harrison County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Severe Ice Storm3
Flood2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe 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
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Show all 17
Jun 11, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 11, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Nov 1, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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 327 storm reports in Harrison County since 1957, with 1 death and 9 injuries and about $6.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1984.

24tornadoes
166hail reports, largest 4 inches
114damaging thunderstorm winds
20floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 7, 1984F4–1 / 1
May 29, 2004F4Bethany0 / 0
Oct 8, 1958F3–0 / 0
Apr 16, 1960F3–4 / 0
May 24, 1989F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 7, 1984Tornado–$3M
May 24, 1989Tornado–$3M
Nov 17, 1958Tornado–$250K
Oct 8, 1958Tornado–$250K
Apr 29, 1970Tornado–$250K
May 24, 1989Tornado–$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 Harrison County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$156,657paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $50,384 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 Harrison County

$109,500median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.8%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; 4,008 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
Grundy CountyVery Low20
Daviess CountyVery Low22
Decatur County, IAVery Low12
Gentry CountyVery Low20
Ringgold County, IAVery Low18
Mercer CountyVery Low18
Worth CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Harrison County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Harrison County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Harrison County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Harrison County had?

Harrison County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Harrison County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 86th 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 Harrison 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 Harrison County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Harrison County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 7, 1984. The weather service has also logged 166 hail reports and 20 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.