Atchison County, Missouri Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MO
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 22th
Atchison County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 21.7, 22th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Atchison County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 21.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 22nd national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 11.39 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $10K in expected annual loss and about 0.23 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $589K in expected annual loss and about 9.42 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $7M in expected annual loss for a population of 5K.
Beyond physical exposure, Atchison County has a medium social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Atchison County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 9 for severe storm events and 8 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 115 Missouri counties, Atchison County ranks #100 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 11.39 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.23 / yr | $10K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 9.42 / yr | $589K |
| Hail | Low | 6.57 / yr | $345K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.46 / yr | $897K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.53 / yr | $552K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $12K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.74 / yr | $25K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.54 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.00 / yr | $21K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.15 / yr | $187K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $13K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 47.53 / yr | $43K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Atchison County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (9), Flood (8), Severe Ice Storm (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| July 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| August 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| October 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| August 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| June 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| February 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Atchison County?
Atchison County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 21.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 22th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Atchison County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $2M EAL), Landslide (Low, $10K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $589K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Atchison County compare to other Missouri counties?
Atchison County ranks #100 of 115 Missouri counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Atchison County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Atchison County since 1965, most often 9 for severe storm events and 8 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in March 2020.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Atchison County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.