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Johnson County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
52nd of 115highest risk in Missouri
$24Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Johnson County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 52nd of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $24 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $451 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2015 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (68 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $307,000 on 44 claims here.

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

Top risks in Johnson County

$11.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Heat wave

Moderate
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 14 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow59.7
$12M
Cold waveModerate81.1
$5M
Heat waveModerate81.1
$2M
TornadoLow57.2
$2M
HailLow67.4
$669K
Strong windLow39.4
$549K
DroughtLow62.2
$429K
Ice stormModerate76.3
$418K
EarthquakeVery Low49.6
$358K
LightningLow48.6
$299K
Winter weatherModerate72.2
$191K
WildfireVery Low28.8
$18K
HurricaneVery Low22.2
$10K
LandslideVery Low60.2
$4K

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Mar 16, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 11, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 19
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 24, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 27, 1965Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 646 storm reports in Johnson County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 15 injuries and about $6.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 12, 1964.

34tornadoes
292hail reports, largest 3 inches
244damaging thunderstorm winds
73floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 12, 1964F2–3 / 1
Mar 12, 2006F2Leeton4 / 0
May 15, 1968F2–2 / 0
Apr 4, 1969F2–1 / 0
May 15, 1968F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 10, 2001TornadoWarrensburg$2M
Mar 12, 2006TornadoLeeton$2M
Jun 4, 2005TornadoHolden$1M
Apr 12, 1964Tornado–$250K
May 15, 1968Tornado–$250K
Apr 4, 1969Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 Johnson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (68 policies)
21.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$307,126paid on 44 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $149,683 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 Johnson County

$235,700median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
37%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.1%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; 22,731 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
Jackson CountyHigh24
Cass CountyLow19
Pettis CountyLow19
Lafayette CountyLow23
Henry CountyLow18

Common questions about Johnson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Johnson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Johnson County, about $11.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $5.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Johnson County had?

Johnson County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in August 2015.

Is Johnson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 52nd 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 Johnson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Johnson 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 Johnson County had?

NOAA records list 34 tornadoes in Johnson County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 12, 1964. The weather service has also logged 292 hail reports and 73 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.