riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Webster County Disaster Risk

Webster County, Missouri

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

45th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#68

of 115 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

43th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 43% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 69% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 70% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 24% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Webster County

Risk Verdict

Webster County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 45th 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 Webster County, scoring in the 70th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 69th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (66th), flood (43th), hurricane (24th).

Preparedness Context

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

Webster County is notably safer than the average county in Missouri. Its composite risk score is 6 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 Webster County, MO?
Webster County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 45th 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 Webster County?
Webster County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (70th percentile), wildfire (69th percentile), tornado (66th percentile), flooding (43th percentile), hurricane (24th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 70th 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 Webster County risk compare to the Missouri average?
Webster County's composite risk percentile is 45th, compared to the Missouri state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Webster County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Missouri.
Is Webster County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Webster County's earthquake risk is at the 70th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Webster County is at the 43th 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 Webster County a safe place to live?
Webster County's composite risk score of 45th 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 70th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Ray County

Missouri

-0.2

Relatively Low

44th percentile

Barton County

Missouri

-1.0

Relatively Low

44th percentile

Nodaway County

Missouri

+1.0

Relatively Low

46th 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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