Audrain County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Audrain County has experienced 19 federally declared disasters since 1974, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Audrain County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, earthquake, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 34 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (71st percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Audrain County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1974, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (8), severe ice storm (4), flood (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And A Tornado |
| 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 total declarations since 1974.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 41.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 55.3 | 6 | 0 | $60K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 77.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 85.5 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 55.8 | 4 | 0 | $110K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 23.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 66.2 | 19 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 56.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 65.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 50.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 64.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 59.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 76.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 42.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Audrain County ranks in the 71st percentile (Moderate) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 71st | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 63rd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 81st | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 38th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 71st | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 32nd | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 31st | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 45.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 34 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 18 in 2016–20 vs 16 in 2021–25 (-11% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Audrain County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Audrain County, Missouri are heat wave, earthquake, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Audrain County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Audrain County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (8 declarations).
Has Audrain County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Audrain County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2021.
How does Audrain County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Boone County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Ralls County, MO has the lowest (Very Low). Audrain County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Audrain County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Audrain County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Audrain County's composite score of 51 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 51% of US counties.