Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MO
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 55th
Ste. Genevieve County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 54.6, 55th national percentile), driven primarily by heat wave and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $23M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Ste. Genevieve County is low, with a National Risk Index score of 54.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 55th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 11.16 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $15K in expected annual loss and about 1.74 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $23M in expected annual loss for a population of 18K.
Beyond physical exposure, Ste. Genevieve County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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.
History supports the rating: Ste. Genevieve County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 18 for severe storm events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (severe storm), declared in May 2025.
Among 115 Missouri counties, Ste. Genevieve County ranks #53 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Heat Wave | Medium | 11.16 / yr | $6M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.01 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Low | 1.74 / yr | $15K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.05 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 8.11 / yr | $136K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.26 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.41 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Low | 4.71 / yr | $367K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.71 / yr | $9M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $26K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.96 / yr | $52K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $22K |
| Lightning | Low | 54.27 / yr | $133K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.21 / yr | $27K |
| 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
Ste. Genevieve County has received 31 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2025. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (18), Flood (7), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| September 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| June 2017 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| January 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| January 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| August 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 31 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Ste. Genevieve County?
Ste. Genevieve County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 54.6 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 55th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Ste. Genevieve County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Heat Wave (Medium, $6M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL), Landslide (Low, $15K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Ste. Genevieve County compare to other Missouri counties?
Ste. Genevieve County ranks #53 of 115 Missouri counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Ste. Genevieve County had?
FEMA records 31 federal disaster declarations for Ste. Genevieve County since 1973, most often 18 for severe storm events and 7 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared in May 2025.
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. Ste. Genevieve County's $23M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.