Monroe County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Monroe County has experienced 19 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.
Monroe County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, lightning, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 69% 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. Monroe County has been designated in 19 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (11), severe ice storm (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, 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 |
| 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 |
| 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 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 | 24.1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 46 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 82.9 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 43.2 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 19.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 36.8 | 12 | 0 | $10K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 27.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 35.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 26.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 35.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 64.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 60.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 54.6 | 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
Monroe County ranks in the 51st 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 | 51st | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 43rd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 61st | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 22nd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 67th | Moderate |
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 | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 41st | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 70.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 21 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 16 in 2016–20 vs 5 in 2021–25 (-69% — 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 Monroe County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Monroe County, Missouri are heat wave, lightning, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Monroe County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Monroe County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (11 declarations).
Has Monroe County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Monroe County include Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Monroe County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Audrain County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Ralls County, MO has the lowest (Very Low). Monroe County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Monroe County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Monroe 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. Monroe County's composite score of 21 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 21% of US counties.