Howard County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Howard County has experienced 29 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Howard County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, heat wave, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 57% 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. Howard County has been designated in 29 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (16), flood (6), severe ice storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 29 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 | 31.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 23.2 | 11 | 0 | $300K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 40.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 61.9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 44.6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 10.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 14.3 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 15.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 28.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 34.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 35.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 23.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 55.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 84.5 | 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
Howard County ranks in the 35th 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 | 35th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 44th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 35th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 37th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 30th | 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 | 47th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 45th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 70.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 20 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 14 in 2016–20 vs 6 in 2021–25 (-57% — 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 Howard County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Howard County, Missouri are landslide, heat wave, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Howard County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Howard County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (16 declarations).
Has Howard County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Howard County include Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Howard County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Boone County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Cooper County, MO has the lowest (Very Low). Howard County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Howard County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Howard 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. Howard County's composite score of 14 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 14% of US counties.