Enter any address in Hickory County, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Hickory County. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 51 flash flood events and 42 flood events. Recent examples include significant flash flooding on June 9, 2024, where 3-6 inches of rainfall caused numerous water rescues. On April 20, 2025, slow-moving storms produced heavy rainfall leading to flooding in multiple low-water areas.
For properties located in FEMA Zone A, National Flood Insurance Program data indicates 4 claims with an average payout of $67,375 and an average water depth of 13.5 feet. Homeowners in areas prone to flash flooding, particularly those near waterways or in low-lying areas, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
38 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Hickory County, Missouri has recorded 93 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 51 flash floods and 42 river or area floods. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1976–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 3, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 29, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Dec 23, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 15, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 8, 2009 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Jan 26, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 8, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 23, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 4, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 25, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 17, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flood — Apr 20, 2025
Slow moving storms produced heavy rainfall across portions of the Ozarks causing flooding of multiple low water areas. The initial storms that develop the evening of the 18th were able to take advantage at limited shear and instability to produce a brief EF0 tornado and localized wind damage.
Flood — Apr 29, 2024
Another round of thunderstorms produced additional heavy rainfall and flooding. A severe storm moved across northern Stone County producing a brief EF-0 tornado. Additional wind damage occurred across Cedar and Dade counties.
Flash Flood — Jun 9, 2024
Two rounds of thunderstorms affected the Missouri Ozarks beginning on the evening of June 8th and continued through the morning of June 9th. Severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds occurred with both rounds. Significant flash flooding occurred overnight where 3-6 inches of rainfall occurred. Numerous water rescues occurred.
Flood — Mar 8, 2024
A swath of 2 to 4 inches of rainfall fell from March 7th to March 8th to the northwest of Springfield. Minor flooding of low water crossings occurred.
Flood — Apr 2, 2024
Severe thunderstorms brought damaging wind, large hail, and five tornadoes to the Missouri Ozarks from the evening of April 1st to the early morning hours of April 2nd. A tornado that occurred near Fair Grove was rated in EF-1. The four other tornadoes were rated EF-0 with three of them occurring from eastern Dallas County into Laclede County. The fourth EF-0 tornado occurred in St. James.||In ...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Hickory County, Missouri:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Hickory County, Missouri that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.