Clay County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Clay County has experienced 25 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Clay County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, hail, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 51% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (27th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Clay County has been designated in 25 declarations since 1965, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (9), flood (8), severe ice storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 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 | Relatively Low | 69.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 87.8 | 29 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 63.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 96.7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 96.2 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively High | 97.4 | 100 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 58.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 78.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 81.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 97.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 75.9 | 2 | 0 | $1K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 43.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 76 | 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
Clay County ranks in the 27th 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 | 27th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 22nd | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 46th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 55th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 25th | 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 | 50th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 48th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 29.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 137 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 92 in 2016–20 vs 45 in 2021–25 (-51% — 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 Clay County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Clay County, Missouri are cold wave, hail, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Clay County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Clay County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (9 declarations).
Has Clay County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Clay County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Clay County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Jackson County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Ray County, MO has the lowest (Relatively Low). Clay County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Clay County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Clay 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. Clay County's composite score of 90 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 90% of US counties.