Knox County
Missouri — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 21th
Knox County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 21.0, 21th national percentile), driven primarily by heat wave and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $6M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Heat Wave | Medium | 8.42 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Low | 8.30 / yr | $247K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.16 / yr | $2K |
| Hail | Low | 3.33 / yr | $149K |
| Lightning | Low | 46.73 / yr | $130K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.25 / yr | $661K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $15K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $63K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.62 / yr | $232K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.37 / yr | $242K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.96 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 10.11 / yr | $6K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.24 / yr | $3K |
| 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 Knox County?
Knox County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 21.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 21th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Knox County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Heat Wave (Medium, $2M EAL), Drought (Low, $247K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $2K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Knox County compare to other Missouri counties?
Knox County ranks #102 of 115 Missouri counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low 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. Knox County's $6M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.