Natural Disaster Risk in Daviess County

Natural Hazard Profile: Daviess County, Missouri

Daviess County, in the United States in Missouri, is characterized by its humid continental climate — hot summers, cold winters, and collision of multiple air masses. The county faces year-round severe weather including tornadoes, ice storms, and floods, and its FEMA risk assessment establishes the hazard baseline shared by all the towns and cities it contains.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Daviess County carries an overall risk score of 5.2/10, placing it in the moderate category. Drought is the leading natural hazard, with multi-year dry periods capable of depleting water supplies, devastating agriculture, and increasing wildfire risk across the region. The area also faces notable exposure to heat and landslide.

Within Missouri, Daviess County's risk is, slightly below the 5.9/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Daviess County identifies drought as the foremost hazard, followed by heat and landslide. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

Daviess County's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that drought exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.