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Maries County, Missouri

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

Very Low overall risk
103rd of 115highest risk in Missouri
$8Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$1.3 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.
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low28.9
$3M
Cold waveLow57.1
$1M
TornadoLow43.9
$1M
Heat waveLow64.6
$724K
Ice stormModerate77.8
$349K
EarthquakeVery Low51.5
$300K
Strong windLow23.0
$216K
LightningVery Low20.0
$69K
DroughtLow37.8
$55K
Winter weatherLow38.9
$44K
HailVery Low12.9
$43K
WildfireVery Low45.5
$36K
HurricaneVery Low17.6
$5K
LandslideVery Low52.0
$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

Severe Storm16
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds 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
Jul 18, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Show all 26
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
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
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1979Tornadoes, Torrential Rain & 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 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.

10tornadoes
96hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
104damaging thunderstorm winds
74floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 15, 2023EF2Veto5 / 0
Apr 16, 1982F2–0 / 0
Nov 15, 1960F2–0 / 0
Nov 15, 1960F2–0 / 0
Jun 1, 1999F1Brinktown0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 7, 2008TornadoVeto$5M
Apr 15, 2023TornadoVeto$2M
Apr 15, 1994Thunderstorm WindBelle$500K
Aug 7, 2013Flash FloodVienna$500K
Apr 30, 2017FloodVienna$500K
Apr 16, 1982Tornado–$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.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph47 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph47 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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (12 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3 millionpaid on 101 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $849,185 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 Maries County

$219,100median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
43%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.4%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; 4,261 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
Phelps CountyLow23
Miller CountyLow28
Gasconade CountyVery Low19
Osage CountyVery Low28

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.