Hickory County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Hickory County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 95th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $5.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $661 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). No 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 Hickory 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 32.4 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 46.5 | $745K | ||
| Strong wind | 55.4 | $433K | ||
| Cold wave | 38.3 | $419K | ||
| Ice storm | 83.5 | $369K | ||
| Heat wave | 57.0 | $345K | ||
| Hail | 43.1 | $136K | ||
| Earthquake | 42.9 | $124K | ||
| Drought | 52.7 | $118K | ||
| Wildfire | 69.4 | $114K | ||
| Lightning | 34.9 | $90K | ||
| Winter weather | 48.9 | $42K | ||
| Hurricane | 19.6 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 42.0 | $515 |
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 high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Hickory County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 21
Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1959
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 376 storm reports in Hickory County since 1959, with 0 deaths and 24 injuries and about $7.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 12, 2006 near Hermitage.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2006 | F3 | Hermitage | 19 / 0 |
| May 4, 2003 | F2 | Pittsburg | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 25, 2000 | F1 | Preston | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 24, 2010 | EF1 | Cross Timbers | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 10, 2020 | EF1 | Jordan | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wheatland | $3M |
| Mar 12, 2006 | Tornado | Hermitage | $1M |
| Jul 13, 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Nemo | $1M |
| Jul 17, 2023 | Hail | Preston | $750K |
| Feb 25, 2000 | Tornado | Preston | $500K |
| Jul 17, 2023 | Hail | Galmay | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 19, 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 Hickory 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 Hickory 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; 5,480 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Camden County | 26 | |
| Polk County | 23 | |
| Benton County | 19 | |
| Dallas County | 23 | |
| St. Clair County | 22 |
Common questions about Hickory County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Hickory County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hickory County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $744,853.
How many federal disasters has Hickory County had?
Hickory County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Hickory County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 95th 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 Hickory 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 Hickory County had?
NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Hickory County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 12, 2006 near Hermitage. The weather service has also logged 132 hail reports and 91 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.