Howard County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Howard County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 110th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $670 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 9 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $859,000 on 69 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Howard 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 23.2 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 44.6 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 61.9 | $748K | ||
| Cold wave | 35.6 | $641K | ||
| Drought | 55.8 | $257K | ||
| Earthquake | 40.7 | $189K | ||
| Strong wind | 15.8 | $159K | ||
| Lightning | 23.9 | $99K | ||
| Hail | 14.3 | $56K | ||
| Ice storm | 34.3 | $47K | ||
| Winter weather | 28.9 | $34K | ||
| Landslide | 84.5 | $33K | ||
| Wildfire | 31.9 | $19K | ||
| Hurricane | 10.1 | $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 very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Howard County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 27
Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 242 storm reports in Howard County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $2.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 12, 2006 near Glasgow.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2006 | F3 | Glasgow | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 27, 1959 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 27, 1959 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 27, 1959 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 1981 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2006 | Tornado | Glasgow | $450K |
| Apr 13, 1981 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 18, 1983 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jul 9, 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fayette | $200K |
| Jun 1, 2019 | Flash Flood | Petersburg | $200K |
| Jun 1, 2019 | Flash Flood | Petersburg | $200K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 Howard 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 Howard 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; 4,374 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Boone County | 25 | |
| Randolph County | 16 | |
| Saline County | 24 | |
| Cooper County | 22 | |
| Chariton County | 26 |
Common questions about Howard County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Howard County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Howard County, about $3.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Howard County had?
Howard County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.
Is Howard County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 110th 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 Howard County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Howard 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 Howard County had?
NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Howard County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 12, 2006 near Glasgow. The weather service has also logged 103 hail reports and 39 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.