Livingston County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Livingston County has experienced 23 federally declared disasters since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Livingston County's highest-rated hazards are drought, tornado, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 50% 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. Livingston County has been designated in 23 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (14), severe ice storm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | 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 |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 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 | 38.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 26.4 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 31.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 56.4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 64.9 | 2 | 0 | $5K |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 41.3 | 13 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 21.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 17.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 19.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 48.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 35.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 76.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 56.1 | 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
Livingston County ranks in the 31st 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 | 31st | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 35th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 29th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 22nd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 44th | 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 | 48th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 51.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 24 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 16 in 2016–20 vs 8 in 2021–25 (-50% — 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 Livingston County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Livingston County, Missouri are drought, tornado, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Livingston County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Livingston County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (14 declarations).
Has Livingston County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Livingston County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2021.
How does Livingston County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Carroll County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Caldwell County, MO has the lowest (Very Low). Livingston County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Livingston County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Livingston 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. Livingston County's composite score of 23 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 23% of US counties.