Worth County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Worth County, Missouri has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 114th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are heat waves, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,103 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Worth County
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- 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 local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat wave | 86.2 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 4.6 | $655K | ||
| Drought | 69.4 | $498K | ||
| Tornado | 23.5 | $315K | ||
| Cold wave | 23.4 | $286K | ||
| Hail | 22.6 | $81K | ||
| Strong wind | 9.4 | $66K | ||
| Wildfire | 34.1 | $18K | ||
| Lightning | 4.8 | $16K | ||
| Winter weather | 8.3 | $6K | ||
| Earthquake | 5.6 | $5K | ||
| Ice storm | 9.5 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 62.2 | $3K | ||
| Hurricane | 7.2 | $528 |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Worth County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 19
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 131 storm reports in Worth County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 11 injuries and about $615,530 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 10, 1958.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 1958 | F3 | – | 7 / 2 |
| Apr 11, 2001 | F2 | Denver | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 1955 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 4, 2005 | F1 | Worth | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 25, 1992 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 1958 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 4, 2005 | Tornado | Worth | $175K |
| Apr 11, 2001 | Tornado | Denver | $100K |
| Apr 23, 1955 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Jul 25, 1992 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Jul 25, 1992 | Tornado | – | $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.
Flood insurance in Worth 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 Worth 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; 1,116 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nodaway County | 20 | |
| Harrison County | 17 | |
| Gentry County | 20 | |
| Taylor County, IA | 12 | |
| Ringgold County, IA | 18 |
Common questions about Worth County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Worth County?
Heat wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Worth County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $655,209.
How many federal disasters has Worth County had?
Worth County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.
Is Worth County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 114th 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 Worth 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 Worth County had?
NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Worth County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 10, 1958. The weather service has also logged 80 hail reports and 4 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.