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Oregon County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
63rd of 115highest risk in Missouri
$11Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Oregon County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 51% of US counties. It ranks 63rd of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,262 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and wildfires). Only 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $490,000 on 39 claims here.

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

Top risks in Oregon County

$4.2 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.5 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.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 150 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow46.4
$4M
Cold waveModerate79.9
$3M
EarthquakeLow82.4
$1M
TornadoLow62.0
$1M
Heat waveLow69.0
$611K
Strong windLow36.8
$260K
Ice stormModerate77.6
$239K
LightningLow35.8
$96K
WildfireVery Low60.1
$59K
Winter weatherLow53.3
$50K
HailVery Low12.6
$29K
HurricaneVery Low37.2
$17K
LandslideLow65.9
$3K

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm17
Severe Ice Storm2
Flood2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and WildfiresMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 1, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Show all 23
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jul 21, 2006Severe StormsEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 1, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and 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 344 storm reports in Oregon County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 17 injuries and about $19.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on December 24, 1982.

22tornadoes
116hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
115damaging thunderstorm winds
82floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 24, 1982F4–6 / 0
Oct 18, 1984F3–1 / 0
Mar 14, 2025EF3Koshkonong0 / 0
Mar 14, 2025EF3Rover0 / 0
Jul 19, 1970F3–7 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 29, 2017Flash FloodAlton$4M
Dec 24, 1982Tornado–$3M
Dec 24, 1982Tornado–$3M
Oct 18, 1984Tornado–$3M
Nov 5, 2005TornadoThayer$2M
Mar 18, 2008Flash FloodRover$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 16, 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 1906, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Oregon County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 50 mph about 47 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph47 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph47 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph60 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 Oregon County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$489,640paid on 39 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $225,382 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 Oregon County

$113,300median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.3%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; 4,321 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
Howell CountyLow23
Randolph County, ARLow25
Sharp County, ARLow24
Fulton County, ARLow26
Ripley CountyLow22
Shannon CountyLow25
Carter CountyLow20

Common questions about Oregon County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Oregon County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Oregon County, about $4.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Oregon County had?

Oregon County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires in May 2025.

Is Oregon County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 63rd 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 Oregon County?

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

NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Oregon County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on December 24, 1982. The weather service has also logged 116 hail reports and 82 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Oregon County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Oregon County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with winds near 50 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.