Boone County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Boone County has experienced 27 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Boone County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, lightning, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 37% 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. Boone County has been designated in 27 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (12), flood (6), severe ice storm (5).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 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 |
| 2017 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 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 | 70.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 87.8 | 16 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 87 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 93.8 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 92.3 | 3 | 0 | $22K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 25.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 71.7 | 17 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 91 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 91.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 86.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 80.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 92.5 | 2 | 0 | $100K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 49.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 88.8 | 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
Boone County ranks in the 42nd percentile (Low) 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 | 42nd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 40th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 6th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 57th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 78th | High |
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 | 49th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 45.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 44 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 27 in 2016–20 vs 17 in 2021–25 (-37% — 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 Boone County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Boone County, Missouri are heat wave, lightning, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Boone County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Boone County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (12 declarations).
Has Boone County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Boone 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 Boone County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Callaway County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Howard County, MO has the lowest (Very Low). Boone County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Boone County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Boone 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. Boone County's composite score of 86 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 86% of US counties.