Cape Girardeau, MO
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Cape Girardeau is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk — near the middle compared to other US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Cape Girardeau County, MO. The county's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, ice storm, and heat wave.
Storm events near Cape Girardeau
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Cape Girardeau's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Cape Girardeau itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Cape Girardeau County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Cape Girardeau along with the rest of the county, not a Cape Girardeau-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 32.7 | Very Low |
| Inland Flooding | 78.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 96.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | 92.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 77.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 78.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 61 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 73.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 38.3 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 94.3 | Relatively High |
| Landslide | 82.6 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 61.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 75.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 91.7 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Cape Girardeau County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Cape Girardeau County:
More on Cape Girardeau County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Cape Girardeau, MO at risk of?
Cape Girardeau is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — near the middle compared to other US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Cape Girardeau County, where Cape Girardeau is located, are earthquake, ice storm, and heat wave.
What is Cape Girardeau's biggest natural hazard risk?
Earthquake is the highest-rated hazard for Cape Girardeau County, where Cape Girardeau is located, scoring 96.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively Moderate").
Is Cape Girardeau a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Cape Girardeau carries near the middle compared to other US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Moderate" for Cape Girardeau County.
Has Cape Girardeau had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 17 tornado, 68 hail, 158 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Cape Girardeau since 2016.