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Mississippi County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
46th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$16Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 29homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Mississippi County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 57% of US counties. It ranks 46th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,251 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance (217 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.4 million on 212 claims here, including $4.0 million for floods in 2011.

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

Top risks in Mississippi County

Earthquake

Moderate
$8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 75 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$2.4 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$1.9 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate93.5
$8M
Inland floodingVery Low25.5
$2M
TornadoModerate68.0
$2M
DroughtModerate82.0
$846K
Cold waveLow45.1
$639K
Strong windModerate62.2
$629K
Heat waveLow64.1
$569K
Ice stormHigh83.2
$425K
LightningLow38.2
$122K
HailVery Low28.4
$89K
Winter weatherLow55.4
$63K
HurricaneVery Low35.5
$18K
WildfireVery Low1.6
$514
LandslideVery Low13.3
$39

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 high 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 Mississippi County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm3
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
May 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, 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
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 23
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
Mar 12, 2008Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Mar 16, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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
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 227 storm reports in Mississippi County since 1955, with 1 death and 41 injuries and about $237 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 22, 1981.

28tornadoes
51hail reports, largest 3 inches
100damaging thunderstorm winds
35floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 22, 1981F4–6 / 1
Mar 20, 1955F3–17 / 0
Nov 24, 1973F2–0 / 0
Nov 24, 1973F2–0 / 0
May 22, 1957F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 2, 2011Flash FloodBirds Pt$200M
Apr 22, 1981Tornado–$25M
Sep 23, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$6M
Mar 18, 2008FloodBertrand$900K
Jan 18, 1996TornadoEast Prairie$750K
Mar 20, 1955Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Nov 18, 2025. 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 Mississippi County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1941, with top winds near 40 mph about 56 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 25, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph56 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 25, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph56 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 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 Mississippi County

Check your address flood zone ›
3.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (217 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.4 millionpaid on 212 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $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 Mississippi County

$109,000median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.7%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; 5,272 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
Scott CountyLow29
New Madrid CountyLow26
Ballard County, KYVery Low26
Fulton County, KYLow24
Alexander County, ILLow15
Carlisle County, KYVery Low25
Hickman County, KYVery Low26

Common questions about Mississippi County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mississippi County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Mississippi County, about $8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $2.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Mississippi County had?

Mississippi County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2025.

Is Mississippi County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 46th 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 Mississippi County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 29 homes in Mississippi 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 Mississippi County had?

NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Mississippi County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 22, 1981. The weather service has also logged 51 hail reports and 35 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Mississippi County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Mississippi 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.