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Scott County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
16th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$37Mexpected losses a year
29federal declarations
1 in 24homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Scott County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 80% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, tornadoes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $37 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $976 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (23 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 24 homes here carry federal flood insurance (665 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.4 million on 484 claims here.

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

Top risks in Scott County

Earthquake

Moderate
$17.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 80 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.

Tornado

Moderate
$6.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$5.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate96.2
$18M
TornadoModerate89.9
$6M
Inland floodingLow49.0
$6M
Heat waveModerate85.5
$2M
Cold waveModerate67.6
$2M
Strong windHigh87.0
$2M
Ice stormHigh92.2
$1M
DroughtModerate74.3
$592K
LightningModerate62.1
$318K
HailLow56.3
$294K
Winter weatherModerate81.7
$200K
HurricaneVery Low40.1
$26K
WildfireVery Low11.3
$3K
LandslideVery Low55.7
$2K

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm18
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 3, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 9, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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
Jul 23, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 29
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 17, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2008Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Mar 16, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1979Tornadoes, Torrential Rain & 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 396 storm reports in Scott County since 1955, with 10 deaths and 79 injuries and about $64.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 16, 2025 near Crowder.

49tornadoes
103hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
161damaging thunderstorm winds
63floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 16, 2025EF3Crowder10 / 2
Nov 17, 2013EF3Vanduser0 / 0
Dec 18, 1957F2–1 / 3
Jun 4, 2012EF2Diehlstadt0 / 3
May 15, 1986F2–15 / 1

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 15, 1986Tornado–$25M
May 16, 2025TornadoCrowder$15M
Dec 18, 1957Tornado–$3M
May 15, 1986Tornado–$3M
May 24, 1981Tornado–$3M
Jul 1, 2019FloodScott City$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 16, 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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Scott County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1941, with top winds near 40 mph about 41 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1941most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 25, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph41 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 25, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph41 mi
Sep 28, 1906UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 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 Scott County

Check your address flood zone ›
4.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (665 policies)
25.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.4 millionpaid on 484 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $1.1 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 Scott County

$154,400median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.2%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; 16,861 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
Cape Girardeau CountyModerate27
Stoddard CountyLow24
New Madrid CountyLow26
Mississippi CountyLow23
Alexander County, ILLow15

Cities in Scott County

Common questions about Scott County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Scott County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Scott County, about $17.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $6.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Scott County had?

Scott County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 23 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Scott County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 16th 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 Scott County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 24 homes in Scott 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 Scott County had?

NOAA records list 49 tornadoes in Scott County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 16, 2025 near Crowder. The weather service has also logged 103 hail reports and 63 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Scott County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Scott County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1941, with winds near 40 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.