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Wright County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
45th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$13Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wright County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 57% of US counties. It ranks 45th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $734 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and wildfires). Only 3 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 Wright County

$6.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 12 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow62.3
$7M
Cold waveModerate74.5
$2M
Heat waveModerate80.8
$1M
TornadoLow57.1
$1M
EarthquakeLow76.1
$838K
Strong windModerate77.0
$800K
Ice stormHigh89.4
$597K
LightningModerate56.8
$205K
HailLow35.2
$100K
WildfireLow64.6
$80K
Winter weatherModerate65.2
$74K
DroughtLow36.3
$32K
HurricaneVery Low31.3
$11K
LandslideVery Low61.8
$2K

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 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 Wright County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm13
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm4
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and WildfiresMajor disaster
Jan 1, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Sep 6, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 23
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 12, 2008Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 15, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency

Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 758 storm reports in Wright County since 1959, with 7 deaths and 18 injuries and about $26.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on September 26, 1959.

31tornadoes
208hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
201damaging thunderstorm winds
271floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 26, 1959F4–0 / 0
Dec 2, 1982F2–9 / 0
May 12, 1990F2–0 / 0
Mar 12, 2006F2Hartville0 / 0
Apr 13, 2018EF2Macomb0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 21, 2019TornadoCedar Gap$5M
Apr 3, 2001Thunderstorm WindHartville$3M
Dec 2, 1982Tornado–$3M
May 12, 1990Tornado–$3M
Apr 30, 2017Flash FloodHartville$2M
Nov 4, 2024Flash FloodMansfield$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 27, 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 Wright County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 45 mph about 55 miles away.

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

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph55 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 Wright County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$93,111paid on 8 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $70,599 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 Wright County

$160,100median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.3%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; 8,367 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
Webster CountyLow31
Laclede CountyLow21
Texas CountyLow25
Douglas CountyVery Low23

Common questions about Wright County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wright County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wright County, about $6.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Wright County had?

Wright County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires in May 2025.

Is Wright County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 45th 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 Wright 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 Wright County had?

NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Wright County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on September 26, 1959. The weather service has also logged 208 hail reports and 271 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Wright County?

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