Taney County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Taney County, Missouri has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 84% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $41 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $736 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2023 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (141 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $19 million on 400 claims here, including $7.5 million for floods in 2011.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Taney 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.
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 89.1 | $28M | ||
| Tornado | 77.7 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 79.1 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 88.6 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 97.5 | $2M | ||
| Earthquake | 76.0 | $974K | ||
| Strong wind | 75.3 | $895K | ||
| Lightning | 85.6 | $762K | ||
| Hail | 67.3 | $397K | ||
| Winter weather | 82.6 | $189K | ||
| Wildfire | 67.9 | $118K | ||
| Drought | 45.8 | $85K | ||
| Landslide | 92.5 | $64K | ||
| Hurricane | 38.3 | $21K |
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 Taney County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 21
Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1957
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 742 storm reports in Taney County since 1957, with 6 deaths and 49 injuries and about $55.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on February 29, 2012 near Branson Mem Arpt.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 29, 2012 | EF2 | Branson Mem Arpt | 37 / 0 |
| May 21, 1957 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF1 | Swan | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 10, 2021 | EF1 | Walnut Shade | 0 / 0 |
| May 22, 2011 | EF1 | Day | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 29, 2012 | Tornado | Branson Mem Arpt | $15M |
| Apr 25, 2011 | Flash Flood | Walnut Shade | $10M |
| Apr 30, 2017 | Flash Flood | Pt Lookout | $10M |
| Mar 18, 2008 | Flash Flood | Ike | $4M |
| Dec 27, 2015 | Flood | Pt Lookout Arpt | $3M |
| Mar 31, 2008 | Flash Flood | Ike | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 30, 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 2008, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Taney County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 45 mph about 34 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 34 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 2008 | Ike | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 34 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 Taney 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 Taney 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; 30,175 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Christian County | 20 | |
| Boone County, AR | 21 | |
| Stone County | 22 | |
| Carroll County, AR | 19 | |
| Marion County, AR | 26 | |
| Douglas County | 23 | |
| Ozark County | 25 |
Common questions about Taney County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Taney County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Taney County, about $28 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Taney County had?
Taney County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2023.
Is Taney County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 12th 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 Taney County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Taney 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 Taney County had?
NOAA records list 22 tornadoes in Taney County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on February 29, 2012 near Branson Mem Arpt. The weather service has also logged 232 hail reports and 152 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Taney County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Taney 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.