riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

DeKalb County Disaster Risk

DeKalb County, Missouri

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

16th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#105

of 115 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

21th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 21% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 56% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 24% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in DeKalb County, Missouri

DeKalb County Among America's Safest

DeKalb County scores just 16.03 on the composite risk scale, earning a Very Low rating and falling far below Missouri's state average of 50.56. This exceptionally low score places the county in the safest tier nationally for natural disasters.

Missouri's Lowest-Risk County

DeKalb County ranks as one of Missouri's absolute safest counties across all natural disaster categories. With a composite score 34 points below the state average, the county represents the minimal-risk end of the statewide spectrum.

Clear Safety Leader Regionally

DeKalb County's 16.03 score substantially underscore all regional peers, including Daviess County (30.06), Dade County (23.28), and Dallas County (41.70). Only Cooper County (20.39) approaches DeKalb's exceptional safety profile.

Minimal Multi-Hazard Exposure

Tornado risk of 56.36 represents DeKalb's most notable concern but remains below statewide average. All other hazards—wildfire (46.37), flood (20.96), and earthquake (23.51)—score well below 50, indicating minimal practical threat.

Basic Coverage Fully Adequate

DeKalb County homeowners can rely on standard homeowners insurance as their primary protection. Verify flood coverage only if your home sits within a mapped floodplain; specialized earthquake or windstorm policies are not cost-justified in this exceptionally low-risk environment.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in DeKalb County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    TornadoPrepare
    56th percentile
  2. #2
    WildfirePrepare
    46th percentile
  3. #3
    EarthquakePrepare
    24th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: DeKalb County

Risk Verdict

Natural disaster exposure in DeKalb County is lower than roughly three-quarters of U.S. counties, with a composite score at the 16th percentile. Residents of DeKalb County can use the 16th percentile ranking as a baseline, while recognizing that individual properties may still lie in specific hazard zones that differ from the county average.

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado risk is DeKalb County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 56th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Wildfire ranks second at the 46th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (24th percentile), flood (21th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Ranked at the 56th percentile nationally for tornado risk, DeKalb County is in a zone where storm shelters have the highest per-dollar protective value of any mitigation investment. DeKalb County's county shelter map is typically available through the local emergency management office. Wildfire is the second hazard driver for DeKalb County at the 46th percentile nationally, meaning households should maintain awareness of both severe-weather and wildfire-specific warning systems. DeKalb County residents can check the county's emergency management website for community shelter locations nearest their address — a step worth completing now, not during a warning.

Regional Context

DeKalb County is 34.5 composite risk points below the Missouri state mean, meaning most other Missouri counties face higher natural hazard exposure.

Is your household prepared for DeKalb County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in DeKalb County, MO?
DeKalb County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 16th 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 DeKalb County?
DeKalb County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (56th percentile), wildfire (46th percentile), earthquake (24th percentile), flooding (21th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 56th 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 DeKalb County risk compare to the Missouri average?
DeKalb County's composite risk percentile is 16th, compared to the Missouri state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means DeKalb County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Missouri.
Is DeKalb County at risk for tornado?
Yes, DeKalb County's tornado risk is at the 56th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, DeKalb County is at the 21th 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 DeKalb County a safe place to live?
DeKalb County's composite risk score of 16th 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 56th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Shelby County

Missouri

-0.1

Very Low

16th percentile

Holt County

Missouri

-0.3

Very Low

16th percentile

Caldwell County

Missouri

-1.6

Very Low

14th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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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