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Montgomery County, Missouri

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

Very Low overall risk
73rd of 115highest risk in Missouri
$10Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Montgomery County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 73rd of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $9.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $861 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2022 (severe storms and flooding). Only 5 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 126 claims here, including $919,000 for floods in 1993.

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

Top risks in Montgomery County

$5 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$606,367 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 380 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow47.9
$5M
Heat waveModerate87.1
$2M
EarthquakeLow69.1
$606K
Cold waveLow40.8
$552K
TornadoLow32.7
$484K
HailLow62.2
$332K
Strong windLow33.3
$267K
DroughtLow58.0
$201K
LightningLow41.3
$137K
Ice stormLow57.1
$95K
WildfireVery Low44.4
$27K
LandslideLow84.3
$22K
Winter weatherLow26.4
$20K
HurricaneVery Low21.0
$5K

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Montgomery County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood6
Severe Ice Storm4
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 8, 2022Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2011FloodingEmergency
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 24
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor 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
Mar 16, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Nov 1, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 292 storm reports in Montgomery County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $2.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 13, 2006 near Jonesburg.

25tornadoes
120hail reports, largest 4 inches
114damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 13, 2006F3Jonesburg1 / 0
May 12, 1980F2–7 / 0
May 12, 1980F2–0 / 0
Mar 13, 2006F2Bellflower0 / 0
Apr 23, 1955F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 13, 2006TornadoJonesburg$800K
May 12, 1980Tornado–$250K
May 12, 1980Tornado–$250K
Dec 2, 1982Tornado–$250K
Mar 13, 2006TornadoBellflower$200K
Jul 18, 2000TornadoBellflower$75K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 16, 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.

Flood insurance in Montgomery County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
2.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 126 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $918,659 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 Montgomery County

$178,700median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.8%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; 5,832 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
Lincoln CountyLow27
Callaway CountyLow27
Warren CountyLow15
Audrain CountyLow17
Pike CountyVery Low24
Gasconade CountyVery Low19
Osage CountyVery Low28

Common questions about Montgomery County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Montgomery County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Montgomery County, about $5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Montgomery County had?

Montgomery County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in August 2022.

Is Montgomery County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 73rd 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 Montgomery County?

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

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Montgomery County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 13, 2006 near Jonesburg. The weather service has also logged 120 hail reports and 32 floods here.

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.