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Madison County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
62nd of 115highest risk in Missouri
$15Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Madison County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 51% of US counties. It ranks 62nd of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,192 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 25 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.6 million on 155 claims here, including $1.1 million for floods in 1999.

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

Top risks in Madison County

$6.8 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow54.3
$7M
Cold waveModerate76.0
$3M
Heat waveModerate84.2
$2M
EarthquakeLow81.3
$2M
TornadoLow51.9
$1M
Strong windModerate55.8
$584K
LightningLow33.4
$113K
HailVery Low29.8
$106K
Winter weatherLow59.4
$80K
Ice stormLow35.4
$39K
HurricaneVery Low33.7
$17K
WildfireVery Low30.2
$13K
LandslideLow67.8
$4K
DroughtVery Low16.4
$1K

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 Madison County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm17
Severe Ice Storm3
Flood2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and WildfiresMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 2, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Show all 24
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2008Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 20, 1999Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 1, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and 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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 181 storm reports in Madison County since 1957, with 2 deaths and 6 injuries and about $7.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on October 24, 2021 near Oak Grove.

36tornadoes
36hail reports, largest 2.25 inches
82damaging thunderstorm winds
26floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 24, 2021EF3Oak Grove1 / 0
Apr 3, 1968F2–0 / 0
May 7, 1973F2–0 / 0
Dec 2, 1982F2–0 / 0
Apr 21, 1972F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 3, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$6M
Apr 3, 1968Tornado–$250K
Apr 12, 1970Tornado–$250K
May 7, 1973Tornado–$250K
Dec 2, 1982Tornado–$250K
Oct 23, 2001Thunderstorm WindFredericktown$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 1906, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Madison County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1941, with top winds near 40 mph about 37 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1941most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 25, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph37 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 25, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph37 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 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 Madison County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (25 policies)
5.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.6 millionpaid on 155 flood claims since 1978
1999costliest year, with $1.1 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 Madison County

$159,000median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13%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; 5,866 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
St. Francois CountyLow19
Perry CountyLow27
Wayne CountyLow26
Bollinger CountyVery Low26
Iron CountyLow25

Common questions about Madison County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Madison County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Madison County, about $6.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Madison County had?

Madison County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Madison County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 62nd 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 Madison County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Madison 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 Madison County had?

NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Madison County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on October 24, 2021 near Oak Grove. The weather service has also logged 36 hail reports and 26 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Madison County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Madison County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1941, with winds near 40 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.