Jackson County, Missouri Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MO
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Jackson County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 96.5, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by tornado and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $251M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Jackson County at high composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 96.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 97th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Very High risk — $62M in expected annual loss and about 0.38 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Very High risk — $21M in expected annual loss and about 8.17 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at High risk — $36M in expected annual loss and about 14.95 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $251M in expected annual loss for a population of 717K.
Beyond physical exposure, Jackson County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
History supports the rating: Jackson County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 11 for severe storm events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 115 Missouri counties, Jackson County ranks #3 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Tornado | Very High | 0.38 / yr | $62M |
| Hail | Very High | 8.17 / yr | $21M |
| Heat Wave | High | 14.95 / yr | $36M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 4.36 / yr | $109M |
| Strong Wind | High | 6.19 / yr | $4M |
| Cold Wave | High | 2.26 / yr | $14M |
| Winter Weather | High | 11.21 / yr | $474K |
| Lightning | High | 50.42 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.92 / yr | $538K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.29 / yr | $23K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $49K |
| Drought | Low | 7.28 / yr | $117K |
| 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
Jackson County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Flood (7), 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 |
| August 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| June 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| February 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| January 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| December 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| June 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 26 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Jackson County?
Jackson County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.5 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Jackson County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Tornado (Very High, $62M EAL), Hail (Very High, $21M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $36M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Jackson County compare to other Missouri counties?
Jackson County ranks #3 of 115 Missouri counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Jackson County had?
FEMA records 26 federal disaster declarations for Jackson County since 1965, most often 11 for severe storm events and 7 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. Jackson County's $251M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.