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Stone County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
21st of 115highest risk in Missouri
$30Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Stone County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 77% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $30 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $970 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2017 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (50 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.1 million on 75 claims here, including $777,000 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 Stone County

$13.1 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.

Strong wind

Very High
$9.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Tornado

Moderate
$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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate74.7
$13M
Strong windVery High99.4
$10M
TornadoModerate69.1
$2M
Heat waveModerate81.4
$1M
Ice stormHigh94.0
$1M
Cold waveLow59.4
$1M
EarthquakeLow66.3
$531K
LightningModerate68.6
$388K
HailLow62.6
$342K
Winter weatherModerate72.2
$118K
DroughtLow49.8
$117K
WildfireLow64.1
$93K
LandslideModerate89.7
$45K
HurricaneVery Low39.3
$23K

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 high 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 Stone County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

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
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Show all 22
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 15, 2007Severe Winter Storms 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
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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 679 storm reports in Stone County since 1956, with 18 deaths and 25 injuries and about $38.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on February 29, 2012 near Kimberling City.

32tornadoes
274hail reports, largest 3 inches
227damaging thunderstorm winds
122floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 29, 2012EF2Kimberling City10 / 0
May 22, 2011EF2Elsey0 / 0
Mar 12, 1961F2–0 / 0
Sep 16, 1968F2–1 / 0
Mar 13, 1973F2–4 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 17, 2008Flash FloodCrane$7M
Feb 29, 2012TornadoKimberling City$6M
Apr 25, 2011Flash FloodGalena$4M
Apr 15, 2001Thunderstorm WindKimberling City$2M
Jan 8, 2008TornadoElsey$2M
Dec 30, 2010TornadoLampe$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 2008, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Stone County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 45 mph about 53 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph53 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 14, 2008IkeTropical storm, 45 mph53 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 Stone County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (50 policies)
10.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.1 millionpaid on 75 flood claims since 1978
2017costliest year, with $777,389 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 Stone County

$249,000median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1992median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
30%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.4%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; 20,464 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
Christian CountyLow20
Taney CountyModerate21
Lawrence CountyLow18
Barry CountyLow27
Carroll County, ARLow19

Common questions about Stone County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Stone County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Stone County, about $13.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $9.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Stone County had?

Stone County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding in June 2017.

Is Stone County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 21st 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 Stone County?

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

NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Stone County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on February 29, 2012 near Kimberling City. The weather service has also logged 274 hail reports and 122 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Stone County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Stone County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), 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.