Cape Girardeau County Disaster Risk
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
FEMA Risk Rating
Relatively Moderate
National Percentile
86th
of 3,144 counties
State Rank
#10
of 115 (1 = highest risk)
Flood Risk
78th
percentile
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Flood
River, coastal, and surface flooding risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 78% of US counties
Wildfire
Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk
Very Low
Higher than 33% of US counties
Tornado
Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 78% of US counties
Earthquake
Seismic activity and ground shaking risk
Relatively High
Higher than 97% of US counties
Hurricane
Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk
Very Low
Higher than 38% of US counties
Risk Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Cape Girardeau faces high disaster risk
Cape Girardeau County's composite risk score of 85.69 substantially exceeds the national average with a Relatively Moderate rating. The county encounters significant natural disaster exposure, particularly from earthquakes and tornadoes.
Among Missouri's riskiest counties
Cape Girardeau's score of 85.69 ranks it well above the state average of 50.56, placing it in the upper tier of Missouri counties for disaster risk. This elevated standing demands homeowner awareness and preparation.
Highest risk with slight variations
Cape Girardeau's score of 85.69 edges just below Camden County (88.39) to the north and substantially exceeds Bollinger County (26.27) to the west. It sits among the riskiest in its region.
Earthquakes and tornadoes dominate threats
Cape Girardeau residents face an extraordinarily high earthquake risk of 96.56, the county's most urgent concern, combined with tornado risk of 77.64. Flood risk (78.05) completes a trio of major hazards.
Earthquake and flood policies critical
An earthquake risk score of 96.56 makes dedicated earthquake insurance absolutely essential for Cape Girardeau homeowners, despite being excluded from standard policies. Pair this with flood coverage given the 78.05 score and review all policies annually.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in Cape Girardeau County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: Cape Girardeau County
Risk Verdict
Cape Girardeau County's overall risk score at the 86th percentile nationally signals meaningful exposure to multiple natural hazard types. Comprehensive household preparedness — including reviewing insurance, maintaining emergency supplies, and knowing evacuation routes — is strongly recommended.
Hazard Breakdown
Earthquake risk is Cape Girardeau County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 97th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 78th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include tornado (78th percentile), hurricane (38th percentile), wildfire (33th percentile).
Preparedness Context
Cape Girardeau County ranks at the 97th percentile nationally for earthquake risk. Unlike most natural hazards, earthquakes provide no advance warning; preparedness here means structural adjustments and a practiced response, not alert monitoring. Alongside earthquake exposure, Cape Girardeau County's flood risk at the 78th percentile nationally reinforces the value of maintaining a household emergency supply cache usable for multiple hazard scenarios. For earthquake preparedness, Cape Girardeau County's county emergency management office often maintains a list of community water supply points, Red Cross shelter locations, and post-quake assistance programs — useful resources to identify before an event occurs.
Regional Context
Compared to other Missouri counties, Cape Girardeau County runs 35.1 composite risk points higher than the state mean — reflecting above-average hazard concentration in this area.
Is your household prepared for Cape Girardeau County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in Cape Girardeau County, MO?
What types of natural hazards affect Cape Girardeau County?
How does Cape Girardeau County risk compare to the Missouri average?
Is Cape Girardeau County at risk for earthquake?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Why is Cape Girardeau County higher risk than average?
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.