riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Vernon County Disaster Risk

Vernon County, Missouri

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

46th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#66

of 115 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

50th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 50% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 25% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% 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 31% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Vernon County

Risk Verdict

Vernon County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 46th 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 Vernon County, scoring in the 52th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 51th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (50th), hurricane (31th), wildfire (25th).

Preparedness Context

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

Vernon County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Missouri. Its composite risk score is within 4.6 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Missouri as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Vernon County, MO?
Vernon County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 46th 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 Vernon County?
Vernon County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (52th percentile), tornado (51th percentile), flooding (50th percentile), hurricane (31th percentile), wildfire (25th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 52th 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 Vernon County risk compare to the Missouri average?
Vernon County's composite risk percentile is 46th, compared to the Missouri state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Vernon County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Missouri.
Is Vernon County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Vernon County's earthquake risk is at the 52th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Vernon County is at the 50th 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 Vernon County a safe place to live?
Vernon County's composite risk score of 46th 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 earthquake at the 52th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Perry County

Missouri

+0.2

Relatively Low

46th percentile

Nodaway County

Missouri

-0.4

Relatively Low

46th percentile

Webster County

Missouri

-1.4

Relatively Low

45th 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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