Henry County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Henry County has experienced 20 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.
Henry County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, drought, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 26% 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. Henry County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (11), severe ice storm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 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 | Very Low | 43.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 61.1 | 11 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 58.9 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 70.3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 62.4 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 27.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 69.5 | 47 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 72.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 63.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 79.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 59.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 57.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 78.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 55.6 | 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
Henry County ranks in the 65th 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 | 65th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 77th | High |
| Household characteristics | 85th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 19th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 37th | 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 | 61st | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 59th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 66.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 66 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 38 in 2016–20 vs 28 in 2021–25 (-26% — 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 Henry County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Henry County, Missouri are ice storm, drought, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Henry County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Henry County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (11 declarations).
Has Henry County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Henry 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 Henry County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Cass County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and St. Clair County, MO has the lowest (Very Low). Henry County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Henry County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Henry 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. Henry County's composite score of 53 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 53% of US counties.