Natural Disasters in Benton, MO

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

80.1

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

78.0

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

56.2

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

53.4

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Earthquake96.2Ice Storm92.2Tornado89.9

Hazard	Risk Score
Earthquake	96.2
Ice Storm	92.2
Tornado	89.9
Strong Wind	87.0
Heat Wave	85.5
Winter Weather	81.7
Drought	74.3
Cold Wave	67.6
Lightning	62.1
Hail	56.3
Landslide	55.7
Hurricane	40.1
Wildfire	11.3

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Severe Storm

Jun 2025

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

17 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jun 9, 2025	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
May 21, 2025	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
May 21, 2025	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND WILDFIRES
Jul 23, 2024	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Sep 21, 2023	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Mar 26, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Jul 9, 2019	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
May 20, 2019	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Jun 2, 2017	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS AND FLOODING
Jan 21, 2016	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Jan 2, 2016	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
May 9, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Feb 3, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Feb 17, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Jan 30, 2009	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Nov 13, 2008	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND A TORNADO
Jun 25, 2008	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Mar 19, 2008	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Mar 12, 2008	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND FLOODING

Showing 20 of 30 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

482

Total Claims Paid

$4,340,759

Avg Claim Payout

$9,006

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$8,999,213

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

194

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-1822	Severe Storm(s)	60	$3,198,972
DR-4803	Other	27	$3,174,962
DR-4741	Severe Storm(s)	16	$1,029,244
DR-1749	Severe Storm(s)	50	$653,217
DR-4451	Severe Storm(s)	7	$292,491
DR-4317	Flood	6	$159,087
DR-4435	Flood	3	$131,508
DR-4250	Flood	3	$115,203
DR-1463	Severe Storm(s)	11	$107,598
DR-1412	Severe Storm(s)	7	$91,103
DR-4490	Biological	2	$30,194
DR-4872	Other	1	$11,292
DR-4877	Tornado	1	$4,343

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$3,140,151

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

2.58

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures	6	$2,542,868
200.1: Acquisition of Private Real Property (Structures and Land) - Riverine	1	$597,283

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Benton has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are earthquake, ice storm, tornado. The area has had 30 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (17 declarations). 482 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $8,999,213 in public assistance recovery funding. 7 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.