Benton County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Benton County has experienced 21 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Benton County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, lightning, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 44% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Benton County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (10), severe ice storm (5), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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 |
| 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 total declarations since 1973.
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 | Relatively Low | 69.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 67.4 | 42 | 1 | $35K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 59.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 78.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 74.7 | 4 | 0 | $435K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 27.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 56.1 | 39 | 0 | $120K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 98 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 67.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 79.9 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 61.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 81.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 76.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 68.4 | 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
Benton County ranks in the 54th 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 | 54th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 72nd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 41st | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 18th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 48th | Low |
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 | 73rd | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 70th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 78.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 84 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 54 in 2016–20 vs 30 in 2021–25 (-44% — 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 Benton County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Benton County, Missouri are strong wind, lightning, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Benton County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Benton County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Benton County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Benton County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2023.
How does Benton County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Camden County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Hickory County, MO has the lowest (Very Low). Benton County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Benton County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Benton 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. Benton County's composite score of 67 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 67% of US counties.