Shelby County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Shelby County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 84% of US counties. It ranks 106th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and lightning. FEMA estimates about $6.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,089 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Shelby 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- Go indoors when you hear thunder.
- Use surge protectors for electronics.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 14.6 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 79.8 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 86.0 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 37.2 | $806K | ||
| Cold wave | 25.7 | $361K | ||
| Drought | 60.9 | $319K | ||
| Strong wind | 24.7 | $249K | ||
| Hail | 36.2 | $164K | ||
| Earthquake | 39.5 | $158K | ||
| Winter weather | 26.5 | $27K | ||
| Ice storm | 14.0 | $9K | ||
| Wildfire | 20.8 | $8K | ||
| Hurricane | 14.1 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 37.1 | $571 |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Shelby County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 25
Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 193 storm reports in Shelby County since 1950, with 2 deaths and 4 injuries and about $3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 23, 1975.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 1975 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 1974 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1970 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 2025 | EF1 | Leonard | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 2025 | EF1 | Leonard | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 1975 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 9, 2025 | Tornado | Leonard | $105K |
| Jun 3, 2008 | Lightning | Shelbyville | $100K |
| Aug 9, 2025 | Tornado | Leonard | $90K |
| Jun 4, 2001 | Lightning | Clarence | $50K |
| Jun 3, 1962 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 11, 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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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; 2,950 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 23 | |
| Macon County | 21 | |
| Lewis County | 25 | |
| Monroe County | 17 | |
| Knox County | 24 |
Common questions about Shelby County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Shelby County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Shelby County, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $1.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Shelby County had?
Shelby County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Shelby County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 106th 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County had?
NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Shelby County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 23, 1975. The weather service has also logged 60 hail reports and 25 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.