Buchanan County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Buchanan County has experienced 28 federally declared disasters since 1965, 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.
Buchanan County's highest-rated hazards are hail, heat wave, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 66% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (82nd 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. Buchanan County has been designated in 28 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (11), flood (9), severe ice storm (4).
| 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 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, 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 |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 total declarations since 1965.
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 | 57.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 68.5 | 14 | 0 | $105K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 45 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 89.8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 89.7 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 90.2 | 21 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 85.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 73.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 72.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 86.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 78 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 72.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 83 | 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
Buchanan County ranks in the 82nd percentile (High) 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 | 82nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 75th | High |
| Household characteristics | 76th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 51st | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 88th | 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 | 47th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 45th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 32.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 39 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 29 in 2016–20 vs 10 in 2021–25 (-66% — 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 Buchanan County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Buchanan County, Missouri are hail, heat wave, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Buchanan County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Buchanan County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (11 declarations).
Has Buchanan County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Buchanan 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 Buchanan County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Platte County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Doniphan County, KS has the lowest (Very Low). Buchanan County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Buchanan County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Buchanan 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. Buchanan County's composite score of 74 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 74% of US counties.