Maries County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Maries 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 103rd of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $894 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 12 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.0 million on 101 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Maries 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.
- 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 | 28.9 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 57.1 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 43.9 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 64.6 | $724K | ||
| Ice storm | 77.8 | $349K | ||
| Earthquake | 51.5 | $300K | ||
| Strong wind | 23.0 | $216K | ||
| Lightning | 20.0 | $69K | ||
| Drought | 37.8 | $55K | ||
| Winter weather | 38.9 | $44K | ||
| Hail | 12.9 | $43K | ||
| Wildfire | 45.5 | $36K | ||
| Hurricane | 17.6 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 52.0 | $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 low 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 Maries County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 26
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 288 storm reports in Maries County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $10 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on April 15, 2023 near Veto.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2023 | EF2 | Veto | 5 / 0 |
| Apr 16, 1982 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 15, 1960 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 15, 1960 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 1, 1999 | F1 | Brinktown | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 2008 | Tornado | Veto | $5M |
| Apr 15, 2023 | Tornado | Veto | $2M |
| Apr 15, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Belle | $500K |
| Aug 7, 2013 | Flash Flood | Vienna | $500K |
| Apr 30, 2017 | Flood | Vienna | $500K |
| Apr 16, 1982 | Tornado | – | $250K |
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 Maries County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 40 mph about 47 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 1923 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 47 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 1923 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 47 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 Maries 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 Maries 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; 4,261 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 | |
| Phelps County | 23 | |
| Miller County | 28 | |
| Gasconade County | 19 | |
| Osage County | 28 |
Common questions about Maries County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Maries County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Maries County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Maries County had?
Maries County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2025.
Is Maries County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 103rd 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 Maries County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Maries 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 Maries County had?
NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Maries County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on April 15, 2023 near Veto. The weather service has also logged 96 hail reports and 74 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Maries County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Maries County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, 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.