FEMA Records
32
Very high volume
Missouri · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Webster County, MO
32 FEMA disaster declarations (1973-2025), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low. Most common hazard: Severe Storm.
- 32
- FEMA declarations
- 25
- Major disasters
- 45
- NRI risk · Relatively Low
- Severe Storm
- Top hazard
The verdict
Two federal records point in the busier direction for Webster County. Its 32 FEMA declarations are 30% above the Missouri county mean and exceed the count for 89% of the 3,266 counties in this registry. Separately, FEMA's National Risk Index places it safer than 45%, based on modeled expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
- Safer than 45%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Low
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 32
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 13
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records; an EM authorizes a narrower set of federal assistance than a DR.
FEMA OpenFEMA declaration desk
County FIPS 29225 · Webster County 32 declarations · rank 336/3,266
DECL-HEAVY · MAJOR-MID · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-LOW · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-ABOVE
- DECL-HEAVY 32
- MAJOR-MID 78%
- RANK-MID #336
- PHOTO-FINISH Perry
- NRI-LOW 45
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Severe Storm
- VS-ST-ABOVE +30%
Nearest declaration peer: Perry, MS (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · Missouri state profile
Webster County among high-volume declaration counties
FEMA declaration records among Webster County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- East Carroll · near 32
East Carroll · near
32 declarations
- Nicholas · near 32
Nicholas · near
32 declarations
- Perry · near 32
Perry · near
32 declarations
- Webster · this county 32
Webster · this county
32 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Webster County carries 32 FEMA declaration records, ranked 336 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
Where Webster County ranks in the national declaration registry
Webster County vs. high-volume counties in this registry
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Webster County
32 Top 11% higher than 89% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-25
Webster County's FEMA Risk Index score
Which hazard drives modeled loss here?
FEMA's modeled annual dollar loss for Webster County is led by Riverine Flooding (about $6.5M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Relatively High), while Ice Storm carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High). EAL and risk score use different inputs; they need not agree.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025 release) - Expected Annual Loss vs composite risk rating by hazard.
What does Webster County's hazard record show?
FEMA National Risk Index
FEMA's data shows an elevated National Risk Index composite of 44.6/100 for this county (Relatively Low rating). Expected Annual Loss comes in at Relatively Low (roughly $16.9M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability (Very Low) and community resilience (Relatively Low) both factor into how that raw exposure plays out on the ground. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Ice Storm stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Relatively High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at an average of 1.4 times per year here, based on 97 historical events on record.
Reading the federal records together
This county has a small entry in FEMA's NFIP paid-claims table: 13 claims and $341.2K paid in total. PlainHazard calls 1-49 claims a light registry record, a label for this dataset rather than a finding that flood exposure is low. A short claims history can also reflect insurance take-up, the period covered, or losses that were never insured.
The declaration register points in the busier direction. Webster County's 32 federal records stand 30% above the Missouri county mean of 24.6. That comparison describes how often federal action was recorded, including any Major Disaster, Emergency, and Fire Management entries shown on this page; it does not convert the count into future probability.
74 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Webster County, MO · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) Very High
23/30
32 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.5x national county average)
County Disaster Density High
16/25
32 declarations (1.3x state county average of 25)
Major Disaster Share Very High
20/25
25 of 32 declarations are major disasters (78%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
15/20
6 different disaster types declared in Webster County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Webster County
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
78%
Mostly major
NRI risk score
45
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Webster County?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | an average of 1.4 times per year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 12 modeled event-days per year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | an average of 5.3 times per year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | roughly once every 392 years |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | roughly once every 426 years |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | an average of 12 times per year |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | an average of 57 times per year |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 2 years |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | an average of 2.4 times per year |
| Landslide | Very Low | roughly once every 2 years |
| Hail | Relatively Low | an average of 6.8 times per year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | an average of 4.4 times per year |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 3.3 modeled event-days per year |
| Hurricane | Very Low | roughly once every 87 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Severe Storm 19
Flood 5
Severe Ice Storm 4
Biological 2
Hurricane 1
Drought 1
What Severe Storm declarations mean here
Severe Storm is the most frequent declaration type on Webster County's record, 59% of its declarations. In FEMA's vocabulary this covers convective weather: thunderstorm straight-line winds, large hail, and the multi-day outbreaks that often carry embedded tornadoes. Activity is heaviest in spring and summer, though the season varies by region.
These events behave differently from a hurricane on paper. Damage tends to be distributed along a storm track rather than concentrated on a coastline, and a declaration typically follows an outbreak that crossed several counties over a few days, not a single point of impact. Because the qualifying threshold is the cost of uninsured public and individual losses rather than storm intensity, two similar storms can produce a declaration in one year and none in another.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 25 78.1%
of all 32 declarations
Emergency - 7 21.9%
of all 32 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 2 | |
| 2011 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 3 | |
| 2008 | 5 | |
| 2007 | 2 | |
| 2006 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 1 | |
Show 4 earlier declaration years
| 1993 | 1 | |
| 1990 | 1 | |
| 1976 | 1 | |
| 1973 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 32 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 32 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4885 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2025-07-22 |
| 4867 | SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND WILDFIRES | DR | Severe Storm | 2025-05-21 |
| 4872 | SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2025-05-21 |
| 4490 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-03-26 |
| 3482 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 4451 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2019-07-09 |
| 4317 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2017-06-02 |
| 4250 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2016-01-21 |
| 3374 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING | EM | Flood | 2016-01-02 |
| 4238 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2015-08-07 |
| 4144 | SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2013-09-06 |
| 4130 | SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2013-07-18 |
| 1980 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2011-05-09 |
| 3317 | SEVERE WINTER STORM | EM | Severe Storm | 2011-02-03 |
| 1847 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2009-06-19 |
| 3303 | SEVERE WINTER STORM | EM | Severe Ice Storm | 2009-01-30 |
| 1809 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND A TORNADO | DR | Severe Storm | 2008-11-13 |
| 1773 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2008-06-25 |
| 1749 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2008-03-19 |
| 1748 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Ice Storm | 2008-03-12 |
Show 12 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1742 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2008-02-05 |
| 3281 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS | EM | Severe Ice Storm | 2007-12-12 |
| 1728 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2007-09-21 |
| 1676 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Ice Storm | 2007-01-15 |
| 1631 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2006-03-16 |
| 3232 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-10 |
| 1463 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2003-05-06 |
| 1412 | SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2002-05-06 |
| 995 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1993-07-09 |
| 867 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1990-05-24 |
| 3017 | DROUGHT | EM | Drought | 1976-09-24 |
| 372 | HEAVY RAINS, TORNADOES & FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 1973-04-19 |
Storm Events in Missouri
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Webster County.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 6,391 | 30 | 52 | $63.4M |
| Hail | 4,411 | 0 | 1 | $86.1M |
| Flash Flood | 2,399 | 47 | 14 | $406.6M |
| Flood | 1,810 | 25 | 7 | $304.6M |
| Drought | 1,033 | 0 | 350 | $53.6M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
13
Total Paid
$341.2K
Avg Per Claim
$26.2K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Score: 44.6/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Low
$16.9M/year
Social Vulnerability
Very Low
Community Resilience
Relatively Low
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Ice Storm Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Tornado Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Hail Relatively Low
Riverine Flooding Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Hurricane Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Ice Storm
Ice storms load power lines and tree limbs with accumulating freezing rain until they fail. The characteristic cost is infrastructure and multi-day power loss across a wide area rather than structural damage to buildings, which is why their consequences often outlast the weather that caused them.
Worth noting for Webster County: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Ice Storm carries the highest modeled rating (Relatively High), while the county's declaration history is led by Severe Storm. That is not a contradiction, the two measure genuinely different things. Declarations record federal ACTION, which requires damage costly enough to exceed state and local capacity; the Risk Index models EXPECTED annual loss across all 18 hazards whether or not any declaration ever followed. A hazard can be the county's largest modeled exposure and never once have driven a declaration.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Webster County's closest FEMA peer: San Jacinto County, TX
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Webster County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Webster County shows 32 FEMA declarations, led by Severe Storm.
Similar Major-disaster share
Webster County: 25 of 32 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Webster County: NRI composite 44.6 (Relatively Low).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Webster County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Webster County: nearest out-of-state National Risk Index composite and nearest FEMA declaration count (floor ≥5 records). Record similarity only, not a forecast of the next hazard.
Similar NRI composite
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA NRI score. This county: 44.6 (Relatively Low).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 32. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Most disaster-prone counties
With 32 FEMA declarations, Webster County sits in the high-volume declaration band - see how that count ranks against other U.S. counties.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Webster County?
The most common disaster type in Webster County is Severe Storm, with 19 declarations. Other disaster types include Flood (5), Severe Ice Storm (4), Biological (2).
How does Webster County's FEMA declaration record compare with the Missouri average?
FEMA lists 32 declaration records for Webster County. That is 30% above the Missouri county mean of 24.6. Its count is also 54% above the national county mean of 20.7. A larger declaration history records more federal actions; it is not a forecast of the county's next hazard.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Webster County received?
Webster County has received 25 major disaster declarations, representing 78% of all 32 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Webster County filed?
Webster County has 13 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $341.2K in payments, with an average of $26.2K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Webster County?
No. In Webster County, Ice Storm has the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High), while Riverine Flooding leads Expected Annual Loss at about $6.5M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Webster County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Webster County was 2008, with 5 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1973 to 2025.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Webster County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Webster County, Missouri has an overall risk score of 44.6 out of 100 (Relatively Low). The county's social vulnerability rating is Very Low and community resilience is Relatively Low. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Low, representing $16.9M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Webster County?
The top hazard flagged by FEMA's NRI for Webster County as of the latest release is Ice Storm (risk rating: Relatively High). Other significant hazards include Heat Wave (Relatively Moderate) and Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts ice storm here at an average of 1.4 times per year, drawn from 97 historical events on record. The underlying methodology weighs historical event frequency against exposed assets and community vulnerability.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
FEMA OpenFEMA declarations + NRI for Webster County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · Missouri profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events