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Randolph County, Missouri

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

Very Low overall risk
75th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$12Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Randolph County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 64% of US counties. It ranks 75th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $504 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Only 8 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Randolph County

$4.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2 million 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 floodingLow37.4
$5M
TornadoModerate67.7
$3M
Cold waveModerate66.8
$2M
Heat waveLow78.6
$2M
EarthquakeLow60.3
$503K
Strong windLow37.0
$407K
LightningLow48.0
$237K
HailLow38.7
$186K
DroughtLow44.7
$108K
Ice stormLow37.9
$52K
WildfireVery Low38.4
$25K
Winter weatherVery Low12.6
$11K
LandslideLow69.3
$6K
HurricaneVery Low14.6
$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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
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
Mar 16, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 16
Jun 11, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 227 storm reports in Randolph County since 1955, with 4 deaths and 29 injuries and about $6.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 12, 2006 near Higbee.

11tornadoes
90hail reports, largest 3 inches
109damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 12, 2006F3Higbee26 / 4
Jul 4, 1995F3Moberly0 / 0
Dec 4, 2017EF1Higbee2 / 0
Mar 26, 1976F1–1 / 0
May 22, 1956F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 12, 2006TornadoHigbee$5M
Mar 1, 2007Thunderstorm WindMoberly$750K
Jul 4, 1995TornadoMoberly$400K
Feb 27, 2011Thunderstorm WindCairo$200K
Dec 4, 2017TornadoHigbee$200K
Aug 26, 2003Thunderstorm WindCairo$75K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 16, 2025. 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 Randolph County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (8 policies)
6.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1,988paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
1999costliest year, with $1,988 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 Randolph County

$159,300median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.6%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; 10,862 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
Boone CountyModerate25
Audrain CountyLow17
Macon CountyVery Low21
Howard CountyVery Low27
Monroe CountyVery Low17
Chariton CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Randolph County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Randolph County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Randolph County, about $4.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Randolph County had?

Randolph County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Randolph County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 75th 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 Randolph County?

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

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Randolph County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 12, 2006 near Higbee. The weather service has also logged 90 hail reports and 16 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.