Platte County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Platte County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $48 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $449 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2019 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (109 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $13 million on 368 claims here, including $8.6 million 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 Platte County
- 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.
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 65.9 | $18M | ||
| Tornado | 88.0 | $10M | ||
| Cold wave | 82.4 | $7M | ||
| Heat wave | 90.2 | $5M | ||
| Hail | 90.0 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 84.9 | $3M | ||
| Ice storm | 85.0 | $964K | ||
| Lightning | 62.8 | $594K | ||
| Winter weather | 87.3 | $525K | ||
| Drought | 57.1 | $370K | ||
| Earthquake | 42.1 | $275K | ||
| Wildfire | 60.6 | $139K | ||
| Landslide | 83.0 | $38K |
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 very 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 Platte County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 24
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 677 storm reports in Platte County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 18 injuries and about $43.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 4, 2003 near Parkville.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2003 | F4 | Parkville | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1961 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1961 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1961 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 10, 1965 | F3 | – | 9 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2003 | Tornado | Parkville | $32M |
| Oct 4, 1998 | Flash Flood | Platte City | $4M |
| May 4, 2003 | Tornado | Beverly | $2M |
| May 7, 2007 | Flood | Platte City | $1M |
| Mar 12, 2006 | Hail | Parkville | $900K |
| May 7, 1961 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 18, 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.
Flood insurance in Platte County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Platte County
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; 46,606 housing units.
Compare in Missouri
All 115 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | Heat wave | |
| Jackson County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Charles County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Louis City | Heat wave | |
| Greene County | Inland flooding | |
| Clay County | Inland flooding | |
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Boone County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 23 | |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 24 | |
| Buchanan County | 26 | |
| Leavenworth County, KS | 21 | |
| Clinton County | 20 | |
| Atchison County, KS | 18 |
Cities in Platte County
Common questions about Platte County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Platte County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Platte County, about $17.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $10 million.
How many federal disasters has Platte County had?
Platte County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in July 2019.
Is Platte County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 29th 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 Platte County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Platte 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 Platte County had?
NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Platte County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 4, 2003 near Parkville. The weather service has also logged 321 hail reports and 64 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.