Natural Disaster Risk in Maries County

Natural Hazard Profile: Maries County, Missouri

Maries County is located in the United States in Missouri, home to roughly 8,424 residents. The county experiences hot summers, cold winters, and collision of multiple air masses, with year-round severe weather including tornadoes, ice storms, and floods shaping the natural hazards faced by its communities. FEMA assesses risk at this county level, providing the baseline for every city and ZIP code within its boundaries.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Maries County carries an overall risk score of 5.0/10, placing it in the moderate category. The area faces significant ice storm exposure, where the thermal profile of the atmosphere during winter storms frequently delivers freezing rain rather than snow. The area also faces notable exposure to heat and cold wave.

Maries County's risk score, slightly below the 5.9/10 state average and near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Maries County, the highest-scoring are ice storm, heat, and cold wave. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Maries 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 ice storm exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.