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Osage County, Missouri

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

Very Low overall risk
78th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$12Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Osage County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 67% of US counties. It ranks 78th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $873 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 34 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.4 million on 180 claims here.

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

Top risks in Osage County

$6.7 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
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 12 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$1.5 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
Inland floodingLow47.5
$7M
Heat waveModerate79.2
$2M
TornadoLow53.6
$2M
Cold waveLow31.2
$486K
EarthquakeVery Low55.9
$409K
Ice stormModerate69.8
$237K
Strong windLow22.9
$232K
HailLow36.0
$166K
LightningLow25.1
$97K
DroughtLow39.0
$65K
Winter weatherLow41.1
$51K
WildfireVery Low35.8
$22K
LandslideLow76.1
$11K
HurricaneVery Low14.1
$4K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm16
Flood6
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 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
Jun 30, 2011FloodingEmergency
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Show all 28
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
Dec 27, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jun 11, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Apr 20, 1999Severe Storms 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
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 228 storm reports in Osage County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 1, 1983.

12tornadoes
96hail reports, largest 3 inches
81damaging thunderstorm winds
37floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 1, 1983F3–3 / 0
Apr 8, 1999F1Linn0 / 0
Jul 2, 1992F1–0 / 0
Sep 28, 1959F1–1 / 0
Apr 17, 1969F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 1983Tornado–$3M
Apr 8, 1999TornadoLinn$1M
Jul 2, 1992Tornado–$250K
Jul 4, 2026Thunderstorm WindMeta$50K
May 8, 2007FloodBonnots Mill$30K
Sep 28, 1959Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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 Osage County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 40 mph about 50 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph50 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 Osage County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (34 policies)
7.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.4 millionpaid on 180 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $763,590 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 Osage County

$223,300median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.5%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; 6,501 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
Callaway CountyLow27
Miller CountyLow28
Gasconade CountyVery Low19
Montgomery CountyVery Low24
Maries CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Osage County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Osage County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Osage County, about $6.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Osage County had?

Osage County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Osage County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 78th 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 Osage County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Osage 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 Osage County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Osage County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 1, 1983. The weather service has also logged 96 hail reports and 37 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Osage County?

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