Holt County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Holt County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 84% of US counties. It ranks 107th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,571 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 19 homes here carry federal flood insurance (199 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $39 million on 1,254 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Holt 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 21.7 | $3M | ||
| Drought | 86.5 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 40.8 | $963K | ||
| Heat wave | 51.8 | $440K | ||
| Cold wave | 27.5 | $397K | ||
| Hail | 49.0 | $272K | ||
| Strong wind | 18.2 | $170K | ||
| Ice storm | 35.0 | $44K | ||
| Lightning | 11.5 | $41K | ||
| Earthquake | 16.7 | $22K | ||
| Wildfire | 32.8 | $18K | ||
| Winter weather | 15.2 | $13K | ||
| Landslide | 72.8 | $8K |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Holt County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 23
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 256 storm reports in Holt County since 1954 and about $1.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on June 5, 2008 near Corning.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2008 | EF1 | Corning | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 22, 1963 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 24, 2004 | F1 | Craig | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 1981 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 15, 1954 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Maitland | $250K |
| Jul 27, 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mound City | $250K |
| Jun 5, 2008 | Tornado | Corning | $250K |
| Mar 9, 2019 | Flood | Corning | $200K |
| Mar 20, 2019 | Flash Flood | Craig | $200K |
| Jun 25, 1994 | Hail | Mound City | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 3, 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 Holt 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 Holt 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; 2,405 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nodaway County | 20 | |
| Andrew County | 30 | |
| Richardson County, NE | 21 | |
| Doniphan County, KS | 20 | |
| Nemaha County, NE | 24 | |
| Atchison County | 21 |
Common questions about Holt County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Holt County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Holt County, about $2.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Holt County had?
Holt County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Holt County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 107th 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 Holt County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 19 homes in Holt 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 Holt County had?
NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Holt County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on June 5, 2008 near Corning. The weather service has also logged 131 hail reports and 25 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.