Home › Missouri › Lewis County

Lewis County, Missouri

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

Very Low overall risk
90th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$8Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lewis County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 73% of US counties. It ranks 90th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $8.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $807 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 25 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). Only 27 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.5 million on 143 claims here, including $2.4 million for floods in 2008.

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

Top risks in Lewis County

$3.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Strong wind

Moderate
$622,229 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow37.1
$4M
Heat waveModerate83.0
$2M
Strong windModerate58.5
$622K
TornadoLow32.8
$536K
Cold waveLow36.6
$509K
HailLow59.1
$326K
DroughtLow62.2
$287K
LightningLow41.4
$151K
EarthquakeVery Low38.5
$124K
WildfireVery Low36.7
$19K
Winter weatherVery Low20.3
$16K
Ice stormVery Low20.1
$14K
LandslideLow64.1
$3K
HurricaneVery Low12.3
$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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm16
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm3
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 31, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2011FloodingEmergency
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 17, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 25
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 14, 1965FloodingMajor 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 278 storm reports in Lewis County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 16 injuries and about $18.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 10, 2003 near Steffenville.

14tornadoes
115hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
110damaging thunderstorm winds
36floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 10, 2003F2Steffenville6 / 0
Apr 8, 1999F2La Belle2 / 0
May 21, 1957F2–0 / 0
May 21, 1957F2–2 / 0
Jun 12, 1970F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 4, 2008FloodFenway$10M
May 10, 2003TornadoSteffenville$5M
Apr 8, 1999TornadoLa Belle$2M
Sep 2, 1993Thunderstorm WindCanton$505K
May 21, 1957Tornado–$250K
May 21, 1957Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 17, 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 Lewis County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (27 policies)
5.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.5 millionpaid on 143 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $2.4 million 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 Lewis County

$130,200median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.2%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; 4,320 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
Adams County, ILLow19
Marion CountyLow23
Hancock County, ILVery Low17
Clark CountyVery Low25
Shelby CountyVery Low25
Knox CountyVery Low24

Common questions about Lewis County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lewis County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lewis County, about $3.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Lewis County had?

Lewis County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Lewis County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 90th 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 Lewis County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Lewis 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 Lewis County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Lewis County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 10, 2003 near Steffenville. The weather service has also logged 115 hail reports and 36 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.