St. Francois County, MO
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
St. Francois County has experienced 21 federally declared disasters since 1976, most recently Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
St. Francois County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, strong wind, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 50 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (73rd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. St. Francois County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1976, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (11), flood (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 total declarations since 1976.
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 | 57.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 70.4 | 13 | 0 | $60K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 91.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 95.7 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 85.1 | 5 | 0 | $75K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 36 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 78.4 | 28 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 93.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 85.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 57.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 75.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 70.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 25 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 67.8 | 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
St. Francois County ranks in the 73rd 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 | 73rd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 74th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 46th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 27th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 89th | 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 | 52nd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 49th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 60.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 50 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 26 in 2016–20 vs 24 in 2021–25 (-8% — relatively stable).
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 St. Francois County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in St. Francois County, Missouri are heat wave, strong wind, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has St. Francois County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. St. Francois County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1976, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (11 declarations).
Has St. Francois County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for St. Francois County include Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1976.
How does St. Francois County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Jefferson County, MO has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Monroe County, IL has the lowest (Very Low). St. Francois County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is St. Francois County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
St. Francois 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. St. Francois County's composite score of 79 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 79% of US counties.