Hickory County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hickory County has experienced 23 federally declared disasters since 1976, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Hickory County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, wildfire, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 80 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Hickory County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1976, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (12), severe ice storm (4), flood (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 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 |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 total declarations since 1976.
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 | 69.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 32.4 | 45 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 42.9 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 57 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 46.5 | 2 | 0 | $50K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 19.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 43.1 | 32 | 0 | $1.2M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 55.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 48.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 83.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 38.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 34.9 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 52.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 42 | 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
Hickory County ranks in the 62nd 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 | 62nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 97th | High |
| Household characteristics | 62nd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 10th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 13th | Very 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 | 79th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 76th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 84.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 80 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 43 in 2016–20 vs 37 in 2021–25 (-14% — 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 Hickory County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hickory County, Missouri are ice storm, wildfire, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Hickory County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hickory County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1976, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (12 declarations).
Has Hickory County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Hickory County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1976.
How does Hickory 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 St. Clair County, MO has the lowest (Very Low). Hickory County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Hickory County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hickory 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. Hickory County's composite score of 24 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 24% of US counties.