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Warren County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
49th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$27Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Warren County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $27 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $770 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2016 (severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.3 million on 102 claims here, including $883,000 for floods in 1993.

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

Top risks in Warren County

$14 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
$5.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 12 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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 floodingLow61.2
$14M
Heat waveModerate92.6
$6M
TornadoLow55.2
$2M
EarthquakeLow73.3
$1M
Cold waveLow46.9
$1M
HailModerate73.6
$977K
Strong windModerate55.0
$938K
Ice stormModerate61.7
$216K
LightningLow30.9
$167K
WildfireVery Low56.6
$102K
Winter weatherLow36.5
$58K
DroughtLow30.9
$42K
LandslideLow74.4
$13K
HurricaneVery Low9.5
$3K

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 very 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 Warren County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Severe Storm4
Severe Ice Storm4
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
Jun 30, 2011FloodingEmergency
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 27, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 15, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 12, 2000Severe Thunderstorms and Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe 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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 285 storm reports in Warren County since 1955, with 1 death and 10 injuries and about $3.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 21, 1981.

15tornadoes
111hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
123damaging thunderstorm winds
30floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 21, 1981F2–6 / 1
May 1, 1983F2–3 / 0
Jun 15, 1982F1–0 / 0
Aug 3, 1990F1–0 / 0
Jul 10, 1971F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 1983Tornado–$3M
Jun 21, 1981Tornado–$250K
Jun 15, 1982Tornado–$250K
Aug 3, 1990Tornado–$250K
Aug 12, 2021Thunderstorm WindWarrenton$30K
Jul 10, 1971Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 18, 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 1923, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Warren County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 40 mph about 63 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1923most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph63 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 Warren County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (42 policies)
12%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.3 millionpaid on 102 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $882,605 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 Warren County

$260,400median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1998median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
23%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10%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; 16,161 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
St. Charles CountyModerate26
Franklin CountyModerate22
Lincoln CountyLow27
Gasconade CountyVery Low19
Montgomery CountyVery Low24

Common questions about Warren County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Warren County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Warren County, about $14 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $5.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Warren County had?

Warren County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in January 2016.

Is Warren County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 49th 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 Warren County?

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

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Warren County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 21, 1981. The weather service has also logged 111 hail reports and 30 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Warren County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Warren County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, 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.