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Ralls County, Missouri

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

Very Low overall risk
109th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$8Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Ralls County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 109th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $8.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $805 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2021 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 15 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $928,000 on 51 claims here.

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

Top risks in Ralls County

$4.5 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 10 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$520,785 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low27.2
$5M
Heat waveLow74.7
$2M
Cold waveLow26.9
$521K
TornadoVery Low21.2
$376K
Strong windLow27.0
$371K
DroughtLow52.9
$256K
HailLow37.6
$234K
EarthquakeVery Low37.3
$184K
LightningVery Low20.9
$103K
Ice stormVery Low23.4
$31K
WildfireVery Low32.1
$23K
Winter weatherVery Low13.5
$16K
LandslideLow73.6
$12K
HurricaneVery Low10.8
$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 very low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood6
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2021Severe 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 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 31, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 17, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 24
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jun 10, 1974Severe 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 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 224 storm reports in Ralls County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 14 injuries and about $11.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 23, 1975.

12tornadoes
73hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
109damaging thunderstorm winds
27floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 23, 1975F2–0 / 0
Apr 2, 2006F2Perry0 / 0
May 1, 1973F1–0 / 0
May 30, 2008EF0Center0 / 0
Jun 20, 2000F0Rensselaer0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 29, 2008FloodHatch$10M
Jul 9, 2021Thunderstorm WindRensselaer$1M
Jun 3, 2008FloodIlasco$55K
Jun 17, 2022Thunderstorm WindCenter$50K
May 30, 2008TornadoCenter$30K
Apr 23, 1975Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 27, 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 Ralls County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (15 policies)
9.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$928,289paid on 51 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $358,090 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 Ralls County

$168,200median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.8%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; 5,056 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
Marion CountyLow23
Audrain CountyLow17
Pike CountyVery Low24
Pike County, ILVery Low23
Monroe CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Ralls County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ralls County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Ralls County, about $4.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Ralls County had?

Ralls County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2021.

Is Ralls County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 109th 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 Ralls County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Ralls 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 Ralls County had?

NOAA records list 12 tornadoes in Ralls County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 23, 1975. The weather service has also logged 73 hail reports and 27 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.