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Miller County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
50th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$18Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Miller County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 50th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $725 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 16 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $553,000 on 28 claims here.

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

Top risks in Miller County

$9.3 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 12 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow61.5
$9M
TornadoModerate69.5
$2M
Heat waveModerate85.1
$2M
Cold waveLow64.3
$2M
Ice stormHigh87.0
$689K
EarthquakeLow66.9
$656K
Strong windLow42.5
$431K
LightningLow51.9
$243K
HailLow43.1
$195K
WildfireLow70.0
$170K
Winter weatherModerate69.3
$123K
DroughtLow37.2
$50K
LandslideLow81.7
$20K
HurricaneVery Low28.9
$13K

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 Miller County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm18
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm4
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe 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 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
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 28
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
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 27, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 15, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2006Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1998Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe 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 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 488 storm reports in Miller County since 1957, with 3 deaths and 8 injuries and about $22.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on October 3, 1986.

29tornadoes
172hail reports, largest 3 inches
170damaging thunderstorm winds
107floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 3, 1986F2–0 / 0
Oct 14, 1966F2–0 / 0
Oct 14, 1966F2–0 / 0
May 22, 2019EF1West Aurora1 / 0
Apr 2, 1982F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 16, 2026HailIberia$7M
May 22, 2019TornadoWest Aurora$4M
Oct 3, 1986Tornado–$3M
Aug 7, 2013Flash FloodTuscumbia$2M
Apr 30, 2017Flash FloodBagnell$2M
Apr 27, 2026HailMarys Home$750K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 Miller County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 40 mph about 64 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 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 Miller County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (16 policies)
3.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$553,256paid on 28 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $180,421 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 Miller County

$192,600median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.8%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; 12,541 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
Cole CountyLow24
Pulaski CountyLow23
Camden CountyModerate26
Morgan CountyLow26
Moniteau CountyVery Low21
Osage CountyVery Low28
Maries CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Miller County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Miller County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Miller County, about $9.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Miller County had?

Miller County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Miller County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 50th 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 Miller County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Miller 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 Miller County had?

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Miller County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on October 3, 1986. The weather service has also logged 172 hail reports and 107 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Miller County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Miller 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.