riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Barton County Disaster Risk

Barton County, Missouri

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

44th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#70

of 115 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

46th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 10% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 65% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 52% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 29% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Barton County

Risk Verdict

Barton County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 44th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado risk is the dominant hazard for Barton County, scoring in the 65th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 52th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (46th), hurricane (29th), wildfire (10th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Barton County residents should identify a safe room or interior space on the lowest floor, have a NOAA weather radio, and practice tornado drills with your household. Secondary risks such as earthquake also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Barton County is notably safer than the average county in Missouri. Its composite risk score is 7 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Barton County, MO?
Barton County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 44th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Barton County?
Barton County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (65th percentile), earthquake (52th percentile), flooding (46th percentile), hurricane (29th percentile), wildfire (10th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 65th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Barton County risk compare to the Missouri average?
Barton County's composite risk percentile is 44th, compared to the Missouri state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Barton County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Missouri.
Is Barton County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Barton County's tornado risk is at the 65th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Barton County is at the 46th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Barton County a safe place to live?
Barton County's composite risk score of 44th percentile is below the Missouri state average of 51th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is tornado at the 65th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Ray County

Missouri

+0.8

Relatively Low

44th percentile

Webster County

Missouri

+1.0

Relatively Low

45th percentile

Dallas County

Missouri

-1.9

Very Low

42th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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