Laclede County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Laclede County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 37th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $23 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $647 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2020 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 18 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $654,000 on 26 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Laclede 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
- Plan for several days without power.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 61.4 | $9M | ||
| Cold wave | 87.3 | $5M | ||
| Ice storm | 97.3 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 86.8 | $2M | ||
| Earthquake | 80.7 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 58.9 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 73.8 | $519K | ||
| Strong wind | 45.0 | $436K | ||
| Wildfire | 78.2 | $312K | ||
| Hail | 51.7 | $256K | ||
| Winter weather | 75.6 | $157K | ||
| Drought | 41.3 | $69K | ||
| Hurricane | 21.4 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 55.8 | $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 moderate 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 Laclede County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 21
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 694 storm reports in Laclede County since 1956, with 4 deaths and 26 injuries and about $128 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on January 7, 2008 near Conway.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 2008 | EF3 | Conway | 12 / 0 |
| Nov 10, 1995 | F2 | Lebanon To | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 31, 2008 | EF2 | Lebanon | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF2 | Jones Lebanon Arpt | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 7, 2008 | EF2 | Phillipsburg | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2026 | Hail | Conway | $77M |
| Apr 26, 2026 | Hail | Lebanon Jones Fld Ar | $20M |
| Jan 7, 2008 | Tornado | Conway | $8M |
| Aug 20, 2007 | Flash Flood | Lebanon | $6M |
| Nov 10, 1995 | Tornado | Lebanon To | $3M |
| Mar 18, 2008 | Flash Flood | Prosperine | $1M |
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.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1923, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Laclede County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 45 mph about 61 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 1923 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 1923 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 61 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Laclede 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 Laclede 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; 16,012 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | 23 | |
| Camden County | 26 | |
| Webster County | 31 | |
| Texas County | 25 | |
| Wright County | 23 | |
| Dallas County | 23 |
Common questions about Laclede County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Laclede County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Laclede County, about $8.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $5.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Laclede County had?
Laclede County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in July 2020.
Is Laclede County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 37th 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 Laclede County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Laclede 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 Laclede County had?
NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Laclede County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on January 7, 2008 near Conway. The weather service has also logged 244 hail reports and 180 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Laclede County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Laclede County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with winds near 45 mph.
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.