Knox County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Knox County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 79% of US counties. It ranks 102nd of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,584 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 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 Knox 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 that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- 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 | 23.3 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 87.8 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 39.6 | $661K | ||
| Drought | 61.8 | $247K | ||
| Cold wave | 24.3 | $242K | ||
| Strong wind | 30.4 | $232K | ||
| Hail | 41.7 | $149K | ||
| Lightning | 40.9 | $130K | ||
| Earthquake | 30.5 | $63K | ||
| Wildfire | 35.3 | $15K | ||
| Winter weather | 10.0 | $6K | ||
| Hurricane | 14.8 | $3K | ||
| Ice storm | 6.7 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 55.5 | $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 relatively high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Knox County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 24
Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1962
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 166 storm reports in Knox County since 1962, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $993,030 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 8, 1999 near Novelty.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 8, 1999 | F2 | Novelty | 0 / 0 |
| May 13, 1970 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 2003 | F2 | Baring | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 4, 2023 | EF2 | Baring | 2 / 0 |
| Aug 16, 1975 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 8, 1999 | Tornado | Novelty | $500K |
| Aug 16, 1975 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 25, 2015 | Flash Flood | Baring | $200K |
| May 13, 1970 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| May 24, 1994 | Hail | Rutledge | $6K |
| Sep 2, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Edina | $5K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 3, 2025. 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 Knox 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 Knox 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; 1,937 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Adair County | 24 | |
| Macon County | 21 | |
| Lewis County | 25 | |
| Clark County | 25 | |
| Shelby County | 25 | |
| Scotland County | 22 |
Common questions about Knox County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Knox County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Knox County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $2 million.
How many federal disasters has Knox County had?
Knox County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Knox County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 102nd 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 Knox 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 Knox County had?
NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Knox County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 8, 1999 near Novelty. The weather service has also logged 62 hail reports and 26 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.