Enter any address in Polk County, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the primary flood concern in Polk County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 151 flash flood events and 57 general flood events. For example, in April 2025, multiple rounds of thunderstorms produced localized rainfall totals of 8-12 inches, leading to significant flash flooding and minor to moderate river flooding across south-central Missouri.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that while Zone A areas have seen fewer claims, Zone X areas have experienced higher average payouts and greater average water depths. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A or Zone X should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
68 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Polk County, Missouri has recorded 208 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 151 flash floods and 57 river or area floods. The county has received 24 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 (1973–2020)
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, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Dec 23, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 15, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 19, 2011 |
| 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 |
| Flash Flood | Apr 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2024 | 2.20M |
| Flood | Mar 3, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flood — Apr 20, 2025
A strong storm system moved through the area on Sunday April 20th, 2025. This system brought tornadoes, damaging wind, large hail and heavy rain. The heavy rainfall led to flooding as the area had already received heavy rainfall from storms earlier in the week. Multiple area rivers reached minor to moderate flood stage due to heavy runoff.
Flash Flood — Apr 20, 2025
A strong storm system moved through the area on Sunday April 20th, 2025. This system brought tornadoes, damaging wind, large hail and heavy rain. The heavy rainfall led to flooding as the area had already received heavy rainfall from storms earlier in the week. Multiple area rivers reached minor to moderate flood stage due to heavy runoff.
Flash Flood — Jun 15, 2025
A tropical like airmass allow for thunderstorms to produce very heavy rainfall across southern Missouri during the afternoon and evening of June 15th. Several roads were closed due to flooding.
Flash Flood — Apr 4, 2025
Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms occurred across southern Missouri between April 4th and April 6th. The highest rainfall amounts occurred southeast of Springfield where pockets of 8-10 inches with localized amounts to 12 inches occurred. Significant flash flooding and minor to moderate river flooding occurred, especially across south central Missouri. Two flood fatalities occurred w...
Flash Flood — May 31, 2024
A mesoscale convective vortex was situated over the border of southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri during the early afternoon hours on May 31, 2024 before slowly continuing to push northeast over the Missouri Ozarks during the late afternoon/evening and into the overnight hours into June 1, 2024. As this MCV pushed through the Missouri Ozarks, a band of moderate to heavy rain developed along...
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 Polk 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 Polk 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.