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Jasper County, Missouri

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
11th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$59Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Jasper County, Missouri has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 86% of US counties. It ranks 11th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $59 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $477 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (121 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.9 million on 175 claims here.

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

Top risks in Jasper County

$26.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times 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.
$13.3 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$5.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 16 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate84.9
$26M
TornadoHigh95.6
$13M
Heat waveModerate94.4
$5M
Ice stormVery High96.8
$2M
Cold waveModerate70.4
$2M
DroughtHigh92.6
$2M
Strong windHigh88.4
$2M
HailModerate90.7
$2M
EarthquakeLow79.0
$2M
LightningHigh88.5
$1M
Winter weatherHigh87.3
$339K
WildfireLow66.3
$133K
HurricaneVery Low38.6
$28K
LandslideVery Low32.6
$387

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm4
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 23, 2008Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 21
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 27, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 15, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 1976Severe 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 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,138 storm reports in Jasper County since 1951, with 170 deaths and 1,272 injuries and about $2.9 billion in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF5 tornado on May 22, 2011 near Central City.

54tornadoes
341hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
458damaging thunderstorm winds
235floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 22, 2011EF5Central City1150 / 161
Apr 3, 1956F4–2 / 0
May 4, 2003F3Carl Jct15 / 2
May 5, 1971F3–60 / 1
Mar 26, 1976F3–1 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 22, 2011TornadoCentral City$2.8B
May 4, 2003TornadoCarl Jct$21M
Apr 28, 1996TornadoJoplin$12M
May 22, 2019TornadoBelle Center$5M
Oct 8, 1993TornadoJoplin To$5M
May 8, 2009Thunderstorm WindBelle Center$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Jasper County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (121 policies)
12%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.9 millionpaid on 175 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $701,164 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 Jasper County

$166,900median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5%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; 54,480 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
Newton CountyLow27
Crawford County, KSLow22
Lawrence CountyLow18
Cherokee County, KSLow26
Barton CountyLow22
Dade CountyVery Low23

Cities in Jasper County

Common questions about Jasper County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jasper County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Jasper County, about $26.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $13.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Jasper County had?

Jasper County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Jasper County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 11th 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 Jasper County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Jasper 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 Jasper County had?

NOAA records list 54 tornadoes in Jasper County since 1950. The strongest was an EF5 tornado on May 22, 2011 near Central City. The weather service has also logged 341 hail reports and 235 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.