Putnam County, Missouri Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MO
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 8th
Putnam County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 8.2, 8th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $3M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Putnam County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 8.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 8th 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 landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $34K in expected annual loss and about 0.60 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $452K in expected annual loss and about 17.53 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $256K in expected annual loss and about 7.95 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $3M in expected annual loss for a population of 5K.
Beyond physical exposure, Putnam County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Putnam County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 10 for severe storm events and 3 for severe ice storm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 115 Missouri counties, Putnam County ranks #113 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 0.60 / yr | $34K |
| Drought | Medium | 17.53 / yr | $452K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.95 / yr | $256K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.26 / yr | $778K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $21K |
| Hail | Low | 3.67 / yr | $144K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.74 / yr | $347K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.42 / yr | $189K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 46.30 / yr | $65K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $21K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $4K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 10.74 / yr | $6K |
| 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 |
Disaster History
Putnam County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (10), Severe Ice Storm (3), Biological (2).
| 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 |
| October 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| July 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| March 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| February 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| January 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Putnam County?
Putnam County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 8.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 8th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Putnam County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $34K EAL), Drought (Medium, $452K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $256K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Putnam County compare to other Missouri counties?
Putnam County ranks #113 of 115 Missouri counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Putnam County had?
FEMA records 18 federal disaster declarations for Putnam County since 1973, most often 10 for severe storm events and 3 for severe ice storm 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. Putnam County's $3M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.