riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Ripley County Disaster Risk

Ripley County, Missouri

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

57th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#47

of 115 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

59th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 59% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 45% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 58% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Ripley County

Risk Verdict

Ripley County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 57th 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

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Ripley County, scoring in the 88th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 59th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (58th), wildfire (45th), hurricane (40th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Ripley County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as flood 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

Ripley County is significantly riskier than the average county in Missouri. Its composite risk score is 6.4 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Ripley County, MO?
Ripley County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 57th 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 Ripley County?
Ripley County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (88th percentile), flooding (59th percentile), tornado (58th percentile), wildfire (45th percentile), hurricane (40th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 88th 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 Ripley County risk compare to the Missouri average?
Ripley County's composite risk percentile is 57th, compared to the Missouri state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Ripley County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Missouri.
Is Ripley County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Ripley County's earthquake risk is at the 88th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Ripley County is at the 59th 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.
Why is Ripley County higher risk than average?
Ripley County's composite risk score of 57th percentile is above the Missouri state average of 51th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (88th percentile), along with flooding and tornado risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Mississippi County

Missouri

+0.2

Relatively Low

57th percentile

Wright County

Missouri

+0.4

Relatively Low

57th percentile

Shannon County

Missouri

+0.5

Relatively Low

58th 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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