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Natural hazard risk in Dade County, Missouri

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Very Low (score 23.2 of 100)[4]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$6.6 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1973
23[2]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
27[3]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates overall natural hazard risk in Dade County, Missouri, as Very Low compared with other US counties, with a Risk Index score of 23.2 out of 100[4]. Within the county, the hazards with the highest FEMA scores are ice storm, drought and heat wave[5].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index estimates Expected Annual Loss from all natural hazards in Dade County at $6.6 million a year, rated Very Low[1]. This is FEMA's estimate of average yearly economic loss, not money anyone paid, and it does not predict next year's losses[6]. Inland flooding carries the largest expected loss at $2.6 million a year[7], followed by tornado at $883,000 a year[8]. FEMA rates social vulnerability in Dade County as Relatively High, meaning social groups here may be more susceptible to harm from hazards[9]. FEMA rates community resilience as Relatively Low, which describes the community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$259,000[11]
DroughtRelatively Moderate$583,000[12]
Heat WaveRelatively Low$587,000[13]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$519,000[14]
Cold WaveRelatively Low$671,000[15]
HailRelatively Low$186,000[16]
TornadoRelatively Low$883,000[8]
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$40,000[17]
EarthquakeVery Low$138,000[18]
WildfireVery Low$19,000[19]
Inland FloodingVery Low$2.6 million[7]
HurricaneVery Low$6,131[20]
LightningVery Low$63,000[21]
LandslideVery Low$73[22]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[23].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively High62.9[9]
Community resilienceRelatively Low20.3[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Dade County as Very Low compared with other US counties, with an Expected Annual Loss of $2.6 million a year[7]. FEMA rates coastal flooding Not Applicable for the county[23]. County ratings do not show the flood zone of a single address, so check an address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[24].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[7] Very Low, $2.6 million expected loss a year

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[24]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 23 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Dade County since 1973, including 15 for severe storms[2]. The most recent is DR-4929-MO for severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding, declared 2026-08-03[25]. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center tornado database records 27 tornadoes in Dade County from 1950 to 2024, and the most recent was on 2024-05-26[3].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Dade County, since 1973
Incident type Declarations
Severe Storm[2] 15
Severe Ice Storm[2] 4
Flood[2] 3
Hurricane[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4929-MO[25] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding 2026-08-03
DR-4885-MO[25] Severe Storms And Flooding 2025-07-22
DR-4741-MO[25] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding 2023-09-21
DR-4451-MO[25] Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding 2019-07-09
DR-4317-MO[25] Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding 2017-06-02

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Questions people ask

Is Dade County, Missouri at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Dade County as Very Low compared with other US counties[7]. To check the flood zone of a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[24].
How many tornadoes have hit Dade County, Missouri?
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center tornado database records 27 tornadoes in Dade County from 1950 to 2024[3]. The strongest were rated F3[3]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[8].
Is Dade County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk in Dade County as Very Low compared with other US counties, with an Expected Annual Loss of $138,000 a year[18].
How many federal disasters have been declared in Dade County?
OpenFEMA lists 23 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Dade County since 1973[2]. Of these, 19 were major disaster declarations[2].
How do I check if a home in Dade County is in a flood zone?
Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[24]. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of a single address[24].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Dade County is $6.6 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Very Low, score 19.9). Of this, buildings account for $3.8 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $1.5 million and... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 23 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Dade County since 1973 (19 major disaster, 4 emergency or fire management). By incident type: severe storm 15, severe ice storm 4, flood 3, hurricane 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and other non-natural... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 27 recorded tornadoes touched Dade County. The strongest were rated F3 (most recent of them on 1973-04-20). 1 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-05-26. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  4. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Dade County is Very Low, with a Risk Index score of 23.2 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  5. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Dade County are ice storm (76.4, Relatively Moderate), drought (75.3, Relatively Moderate), heat wave (64.5, Relatively Low). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  6. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  7. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Dade County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 27.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.6 million a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 1.71 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Dade County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 45.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $883,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.4 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Dade County is Relatively High (score 62.9). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Dade County is Relatively Low (score 20.3). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Dade County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 76.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $259,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.06 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Dade County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 75.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $583,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 11.55 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Dade County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 64.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $587,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 14.63 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Dade County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 54.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $519,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 6.04 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Dade County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 46.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $671,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 2.26 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Dade County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 46.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $186,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 7.54 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Dade County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 42.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $40,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 11.42 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Dade County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 41.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $138,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0016 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Dade County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 38.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $19,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.001 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Dade County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 22.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $6,131 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the Atlantic Basin and... FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Dade County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 22.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $63,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 55.56 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Dade County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 17.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $73 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Dade County: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  24. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  25. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.