Polk County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Polk County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 54% of US counties. It ranks 54th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $494 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $133,000 on 10 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Polk 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 57.9 | $7M | ||
| Tornado | 73.5 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 81.8 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 76.5 | $997K | ||
| Cold wave | 49.8 | $814K | ||
| Ice storm | 86.6 | $582K | ||
| Earthquake | 63.6 | $479K | ||
| Lightning | 73.3 | $475K | ||
| Hail | 68.3 | $444K | ||
| Drought | 65.6 | $349K | ||
| Wildfire | 72.2 | $177K | ||
| Winter weather | 71.2 | $117K | ||
| Hurricane | 24.1 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 30.4 | $274 |
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 moderate 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 Polk County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 23
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 866 storm reports in Polk County since 1955, with 1 death and 10 injuries and about $56.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 4, 2003 near Dunnegan.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2003 | F2 | Dunnegan | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 14, 1971 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 13, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF1 | Brighton | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 18, 2002 | F1 | Humansville | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2024 | Hail | Bolivar | $10M |
| Aug 20, 2007 | Flash Flood | Eudora | $9M |
| May 8, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Knox | $7M |
| Apr 21, 2022 | Hail | Bolivar | $6M |
| May 4, 2003 | Tornado | Dunnegan | $5M |
| Apr 15, 2023 | Hail | Bolivar | $3M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 Polk 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 Polk 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; 13,482 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Greene County | 25 | |
| Dallas County | 23 | |
| Cedar County | 21 | |
| St. Clair County | 22 | |
| Hickory County | 21 | |
| Dade County | 23 |
Common questions about Polk County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Polk County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Polk County, about $7.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.5 million.
How many federal disasters has Polk County had?
Polk County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Polk County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 54th 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 Polk County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Polk County had?
NOAA records list 38 tornadoes in Polk County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 4, 2003 near Dunnegan. The weather service has also logged 306 hail reports and 218 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.