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Reynolds County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
40th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$20Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Reynolds County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 64% of US counties. It ranks 40th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $3,302 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 16 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.0 million on 141 claims here, including $1.3 million for floods in 2017.

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

Top risks in Reynolds County

$10 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$6.3 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
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh95.3
$10M
Inland floodingLow54.1
$6M
Heat waveModerate84.7
$2M
TornadoLow42.5
$807K
EarthquakeLow72.6
$804K
Strong windLow24.7
$198K
LightningVery Low22.9
$67K
HailVery Low15.1
$44K
WildfireVery Low48.5
$37K
Ice stormLow32.2
$31K
Winter weatherLow34.5
$31K
LandslideLow84.9
$25K
HurricaneVery Low25.0
$8K
DroughtVery Low15.0
$500

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 Reynolds County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm17
Severe Ice Storm3
Flood3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and WildfiresMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 1, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 23, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor 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
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 25
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2008Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Dec 29, 2006Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1994Severe Storms, Tornadoes, FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 1, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and 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 193 storm reports in Reynolds County since 1955, with 3 deaths and 1 injury and about $6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 12, 1970.

23tornadoes
65hail reports, largest 4 inches
75damaging thunderstorm winds
26floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 12, 1970F2–1 / 0
Mar 14, 2025EF2Hadley0 / 0
Sep 22, 2006F2Oates0 / 0
Dec 10, 2021EF2Redford0 / 0
Dec 2, 1982F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 9, 2026Flash FloodGreeley$3M
Apr 4, 2025Flash FloodEllington$500K
Mar 18, 2008Flash FloodGreeley$400K
Jul 26, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$400K
Dec 28, 2015Flash FloodMunger$355K
Apr 12, 1970Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 1906, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Reynolds County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 45 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1941most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 25, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 25, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph62 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 Reynolds County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (16 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3 millionpaid on 141 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $1.3 million 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 Reynolds County

$151,700median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.1%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; 3,461 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
Dent CountyLow16
Wayne CountyLow26
Iron CountyLow25
Shannon CountyLow25
Carter CountyLow20

Common questions about Reynolds County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Reynolds County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Reynolds County, about $10 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $6.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Reynolds County had?

Reynolds County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Reynolds County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 40th 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 Reynolds County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Reynolds 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 Reynolds County had?

NOAA records list 23 tornadoes in Reynolds County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 12, 1970. The weather service has also logged 65 hail reports and 26 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Reynolds County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Reynolds County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with winds near 45 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.