Natural Disasters in Cape Girardeau, 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

May 2025

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

15 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
May 21, 2025	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
Jul 18, 2013	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
May 9, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Feb 3, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Jun 19, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
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
Dec 12, 2007	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS
Sep 10, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION

Showing 20 of 28 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

1,455

Total IA Distributed

$3,816,895

Repair/Replace

$1,104,264

Rental Assistance

$275,670

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4665	12	N/A	—
DR-4489	2	N/A	—
DR-4490	356	$2,170,996	—
DR-1749	627	$792,605	$2,609
DR-4250	79	$267,019	$7,753
DR-1991	119	$207,415	$1,940
DR-1980	197	$206,802	$5,897
DR-4872	18	$63,750	$7,156
DR-1463	30	$54,110	$3,271
DR-4803	5	$37,798	$1,923

Showing top 10 of 14 disasters by IA amount

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

1,074

Total Claims Paid

$11,155,545

Avg Claim Payout

$10,387

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

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$5,571,822

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

168

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4451	Severe Storm(s)	17	$1,830,851
DR-4250	Flood	16	$612,754
DR-4872	Other	13	$535,573
DR-1463	Severe Storm(s)	17	$490,701
DR-1412	Severe Storm(s)	24	$470,775
DR-1822	Severe Storm(s)	17	$433,995
DR-4317	Flood	15	$428,486
DR-1749	Severe Storm(s)	43	$370,378
DR-4490	Biological	3	$259,291
DR-4435	Flood	2	$111,938
DR-4741	Severe Storm(s)	1	$27,081

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.

Cape Girardeau 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 28 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (15 declarations). 1,074 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $5,571,822 in public assistance recovery funding. $3,816,895 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 7 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.