Osage County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Osage County has experienced 30 federally declared disasters since 1973, 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.
Osage County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, landslide, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 53% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (2nd percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Osage County has been designated in 30 declarations since 1973, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (16), flood (6), severe ice storm (4).
| 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 |
| 2017 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds 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 |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 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 | 35.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 47.5 | 12 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 55.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 79.2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 53.6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 14.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 36 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 22.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 41.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 69.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 31.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 25.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 39 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 76.1 | 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
Osage County ranks in the 2nd percentile (Very 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 | 2nd | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 2nd | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 3rd | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 1st | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 25th | 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 | 49th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 90.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 28 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 19 in 2016–20 vs 9 in 2021–25 (-53% — 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 Osage County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Osage County, Missouri are heat wave, landslide, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Osage County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Osage County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (16 declarations).
Has Osage County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Osage County include Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1973.
How does Osage County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Cole County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Maries County, MO has the lowest (Very Low). Osage County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Osage County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Osage 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. Osage County's composite score of 33 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 33% of US counties.