Enter any address in Osage County, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Osage County, MO. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 30 flash flood events and 11 flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding reported on August 2, 2023, following widespread heavy rain, and another instance on August 4, 2023, caused by training thunderstorms.
FEMA data on National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims shows that properties in Zone A, which have no Base Flood Elevation (BFE) defined, have experienced 112 claims with an average payout of $15,537 and an average water depth of 7.6 feet. Properties in Zone X, also considered moderate to low risk, have had fewer claims but with a significantly higher average payout of $35,686 and an average water depth of 23.1 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Osage County, Missouri has recorded 41 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 30 flash floods and 11 river or area floods. The county has received 29 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Apr 28, 2017 |
| 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 Storms, Straight-line Winds And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 2, 2013 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 29, 2013 |
| Flooding | Flood | Jun 1, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 10, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 30, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2016 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 4, 2023
A very unstable airmass with numerous sources of lift culminated in a line of training thunderstorms during the early morning hours of August 4th. This resulted in flash flooding and wind damage in portions of southeast Missouri.
Flash Flood — Aug 2, 2023
Thunderstorms developed over central Missouri during the early evening hours. They moved east/southeast through the overnight hours. Numerous large hail and damaging wind reports were received. During the late evening through overnight hours, widespread heavy rain fell causing flash flooding. There was fairly widespread 1-3 rainfall totals, with isolated 6-8+ in central Missouri and south-centr...
Flash Flood — Aug 2, 2023
A swath of strong to severe storms with very heavy rainfall rates moved southeast across portions of northern and central Missouri during the early morning hours of August 2nd. There were several reports of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 31, 2020
An upper level low centered over Missouri moved slowly eastward with two lobes of vorticity that were pivoting around each other. The interaction of the two vort maxes produced two distinct areas of heavy rain, one over central/east central Missouri and another over south central and southeast Missouri. Very heavy rain fell in these areas, mainly between 3 and 4 inches of rain, though a few are...
Flash Flood — Jan 10, 2020
A strong cold front moved through the region, triggering showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms were strong to severe with several reports of damaging winds. Also, several rounds of heavy rain fell across the region in a two day period which caused flash flooding at a couple of locations.
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 Osage 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 Osage 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.