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Laclede County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
37th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$23Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$8.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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
$5.3 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.

Ice storm

Very High
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow61.4
$9M
Cold waveModerate87.3
$5M
Ice stormVery High97.3
$2M
Heat waveModerate86.8
$2M
EarthquakeLow80.7
$2M
TornadoLow58.9
$2M
LightningModerate73.8
$519K
Strong windLow45.0
$436K
WildfireLow78.2
$312K
HailLow51.7
$256K
Winter weatherModerate75.6
$157K
DroughtLow41.3
$69K
HurricaneVery Low21.4
$6K
LandslideVery Low55.8
$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

Severe Storm13
Flood3
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 6, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 21
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Sep 21, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

28tornadoes
244hail reports, largest 3 inches
212damaging thunderstorm winds
180floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jan 7, 2008EF3Conway12 / 0
Nov 10, 1995F2Lebanon To0 / 0
Mar 31, 2008EF2Lebanon0 / 0
May 8, 2009EF2Jones Lebanon Arpt0 / 0
Jan 7, 2008EF2Phillipsburg0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 28, 2026HailConway$77M
Apr 26, 2026HailLebanon Jones Fld Ar$20M
Jan 7, 2008TornadoConway$8M
Aug 20, 2007Flash FloodLebanon$6M
Nov 10, 1995TornadoLebanon To$3M
Mar 18, 2008Flash FloodProsperine$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1923most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph61 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 ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (18 policies)
6.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$653,500paid on 26 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $304,483 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 Laclede County

$168,400median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.8%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; 16,012 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
Pulaski CountyLow23
Camden CountyModerate26
Webster CountyLow31
Texas CountyLow25
Wright CountyLow23
Dallas CountyVery Low23

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.