Lewis County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Lewis County has experienced 27 federally declared disasters since 1965, 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.
Lewis County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, landslide, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 42% 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. Lewis County has been designated in 27 declarations since 1965, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (16), flood (5), severe ice storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 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 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 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 | 36.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 37.1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 38.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 83 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 32.8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 12.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 59.1 | 32 | 0 | $5K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 58.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 20.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 20.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 36.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 41.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 62.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 64.1 | 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
Lewis County ranks in the 45th 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 | 45th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 63rd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 3rd | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 21st | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 79th | 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 | 41st | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 39th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 56.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 41 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 26 in 2016–20 vs 15 in 2021–25 (-42% — 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 Lewis County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Lewis County, Missouri are heat wave, landslide, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Lewis County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Lewis County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (16 declarations).
Has Lewis County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Lewis County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Lewis County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Adams County, IL has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Shelby County, MO has the lowest (Very Low). Lewis County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Lewis County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Lewis 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. Lewis County's composite score of 27 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 27% of US counties.