Dent County, Missouri
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 29065 · population 14,403 · 753 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 497 records for Dent County, Missouri from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 316 days; the most frequent are hail reports (131 records). The deadliest single record is the December 31, 2010 tornado: 2 deaths and $609,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1976, 16 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding” on January 1, 2025.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 497on 316 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 44 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $28Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 20strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 2025
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Dent County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 131 since 1955. 54% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in April and May. The rank column places the county among Missouri's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 131 | 80 | 1955-2025 | 0 | 0 | $369K | 99 of 114 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 122 | 91 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | 93 of 114 |
| Floods | 111 | 78 | 1997-2026 | 2 | 0 | $18M | 54 of 114 |
| Winter storms | 47 | 46 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $286K | 97 of 114 |
| Heavy rain | 25 | 11 | 2009-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 114 |
| Tornadoes | 20 | 16 | 1957-2025 | 2 | 4 | $1.7M | 99 of 114 |
| Drought | 17 | 17 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | 82 of 114 |
| Extreme cold | 9 | 9 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3.8M | 84 of 114 |
| Heat | 9 | 9 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 105 of 114 |
| Wildfires | 4 | 4 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 114 |
| High wind and dust storms | 1 | 1 | 2001-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 111 of 114 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | $44K | 71 of 114 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Dent County had?
NOAA records 20 tornadoes in Dent County from 1957 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 2 deaths and 4 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 21 tornadoes whose track touched Dent County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 20: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-12-31 10:12, as SPC files it | Unnamed | EF1 | 6.78 mi | 2 |
| 1957-05-21 15:00, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 10.2 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Missouri.
Every tornado record filed for Dent County (20)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-19 | Max, Dent County | EF0 1.93 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2025-05-19 | New Hope, Dent County | EF1 6.39 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2025-05-19 | Salem, Dent County | EF0 4.26 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $55K |
| 2025-05-19 | Gano, Dent County | EF0 0.97 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $80K |
| 2021-10-24 | Gladden, Dent County | EF1 8.16 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $245K |
| 2017-05-27 | Lake Spg, Dent County | EF0 0.01 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-03-29 | Short Bend, Dent County | EF1 2.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $60K |
| 2012-02-29 | Anutt, Dent County | EF1 9 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-12-31 | Lecoma, Dent County | EF1 1.23 mi x 100 yd | 2 | 0 | $609K |
| 2007-08-24 | Salem, Dent County | EF0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-04 | Salem, Dent County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-01 | Lecoma, Dent County | F0 0.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-01 | Lecoma, Dent County | F2 1 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $106K |
| 1994-06-26 | Salem To, Dent County | F1 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $110K |
| 1988-11-15 | Dent County | F1 17 mi x 73 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-05-13 | Dent County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-04-23 | Dent County | F0 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1978-05-12 | Dent County | 0 | 0 | $25K step | |
| 1965-05-25 | Dent County | F1 7.4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1957-05-21 | Dent County | F3 10.2 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Dent County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 31, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindBoss, Dent County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-15 | Thunderstorm WindMontauk, Dent County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-07 | FloodStone Hill, Dent County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-07 | FloodSligo, Dent County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-05 | FloodSligo, Dent County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtDent County · forecast zone Dent | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Winter StormDent County · forecast zone Dent | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-18 | Thunderstorm WindMontauk, Dent County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-08 | HailSalem, Dent County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-19 | TornadoMax, Dent County | EF0 1.93 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2025-05-19 | TornadoNew Hope, Dent County | EF1 6.39 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2025-05-19 | TornadoSalem, Dent County | EF0 4.26 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $55K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-12-31 | TornadoLecoma, Dent County The NWS survey team determined that an EF-1 tornado occurred. The tornado was estimated to be 100 yards wide along County Road 2050 near Lecoma with estimated winds of 90 to 100 mph. The tornado tracked approximately 1.5 miles before entering into rural Phelps County. Several structures had extensive damage or were ... | EF1 1.23 mi x 100 yd | 2 | 0 | $609K |
| 2020-11-22 | FloodSligo, Dent County A vehicle was swept of the low water crossing over Highway TT at Crooked Creek. A driver with a six-year old passenger drove into the flooded low water crossing northeast of Salem. The driver was able to swim to safety, but the 6-year old was swept downstream and drowned. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2017-05-04 | FloodJack, Dent County The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that a man drowned near a low water crossing at County Road 2430 and Dry Fork Creek. The man attempted to drive across a flooded low water crossing but the car was swept away. | 1 | 0 | $12K | |
| 1994-06-26 | TornadoSalem To, Dent County A tornado touched down along Highway 32 southwest of Salem and moved southeast. One home sustained substantial window and moderate roof damage. A mobile home was completely destroyed while a second received roof and window damage. Two churches along the track sustained minor damage with numerous trees uprooted or ... | F1 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $110K |
| 1957-05-21 | TornadoDent County | F3 10.2 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11-05 | Flash FloodSligo, Dent County | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 2007-04-07 | Frost/FreezeDent County · forecast zone Dent | 0 | 0 | $3.8M | |
| 2009-05-08 | Thunderstorm WindCoulstone, Dent County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2017-04-29 | Flash FloodSalem, Dent County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2012-08-01 | DroughtDent County · forecast zone Dent | 0 | 0 | $887K | |
| 2023-07-01 | DroughtDent County · forecast zone Dent | 0 | 0 | $823K | |
| 2011-04-23 | FloodMontauk, Dent County | 0 | 0 | $656K | |
| 2010-12-31 | TornadoLecoma, Dent County | EF1 1.23 mi x 100 yd | 2 | 0 | $609K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 21, 1957 (tornado, Dent County); May 12, 1978 (tornado, Dent County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Dent County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 45 | 27 | 26 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 21 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 29 | 36 | 41 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 16 | 10 | 16 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 16 | 8 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
54% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 29 · Feb 32 · Mar 67 · Apr 78 · May 81 · Jun 41 · Jul 36 · Aug 50 · Sep 23 · Oct 20 · Nov 21 · Dec 19 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Dent County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Dent County: 10 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and severe ice storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 | DR-4855 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4490 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3482 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-06-02 | DR-4317 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| 2016-01-02 | EM-3374 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-02-03 | EM-3317 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009-06-19 | DR-1847 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2009-01-30 | EM-3303 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-11-13 | DR-1809 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and A Tornado |
| 2008-03-19 | DR-1749 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2007-12-12 | EM-3281 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-01-15 | DR-1676 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-07-21 | EM-3267 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3232 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-05-06 | DR-1463 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2002-05-06 | DR-1412 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1993-12-01 | DR-1006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1976-09-24 | EM-3017 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Dent County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 111 flood or flash flood records for Dent County from 1997 to 2026, on 78 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Dent County ranks 2590th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $27,000 on 5 claims filed in Dent County; the most in one year was 1 in 1979. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2017: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Dent County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Dent County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $16.3 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $8.2M | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | 11 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $209K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 233 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $58K | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $995K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $378K | 3.1 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $126K | 54 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Dent County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in MissouriEvery Missouri tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Hail in MissouriThe state's hail reports, by county, year and month
- The Missouri recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Dent CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Dent County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis