Cape Girardeau County
Missouri — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 86th
Cape Girardeau County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 85.7, 86th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $68M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $29M |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.11 / yr | $2M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 10.95 / yr | $4M |
| Winter Weather | High | 7.89 / yr | $540K |
| Landslide | Low | 1.65 / yr | $27K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.16 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 6.32 / yr | $21M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.49 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.03 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Medium | 3.46 / yr | $764K |
| Lightning | Medium | 56.44 / yr | $412K |
| Drought | Low | 3.88 / yr | $355K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $32K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $20K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cape Girardeau County?
Cape Girardeau County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 85.7 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 86th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cape Girardeau County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Medium, $29M EAL), Ice Storm (High, $2M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $4M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cape Girardeau County compare to other Missouri counties?
Cape Girardeau County ranks #10 of 115 Missouri counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
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. Cape Girardeau County's $68M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.