Enter any address in Vernon County, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Vernon County, MO. Between 1996 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 81 flash flood events and 39 flood events. For example, on May 19, 2025, a strong storm system brought between 1 and 5 inches of rainfall, leading to localized flash flooding, areal flooding, and river flooding. Similarly, on April 20, 2025, heavy rainfall from a storm system, following earlier rains, caused multiple area rivers to reach minor to moderate flood stages.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced flooding, with an average of 10 claims resulting in an average payout of $7,579 and an average water depth of 0.2 feet. Homeowners in areas prone to flash flooding, river overflow, or those located in Zone A should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
19 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Vernon County, Missouri has recorded 120 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 81 flash floods and 39 river or area floods. The county has received 25 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 (1976–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 23, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 30, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 29, 2023 |
| 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 22, 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 20, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 19, 2025 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 28, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
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.
Flood — May 19, 2025
A strong storm system pushed into the area during the afternoon of May 19, 2025 and persisted into the evening and overnight hours.�� This system produced 8 tornadoes across the area, along with widespread wind damage and between 1 and 5 inches of rainfall.�� The intense rainfall led to some localized flash flooding, areal flooding and river flooding.
Flash Flood — May 19, 2025
A strong storm system pushed into the area during the afternoon of May 19, 2025 and persisted into the evening and overnight hours.�� This system produced 8 tornadoes across the area, along with widespread wind damage and between 1 and 5 inches of rainfall.�� The intense rainfall led to some localized flash flooding, areal flooding and river flooding.
Flood — Jun 6, 2025
A round of showers and thunderstorms occurred during the late night hours of June 5th through the morning hours of June 6th. A line of thunderstorms moved into the area from the southwest and caused damaging winds and a tornado. Additional rainfall on June 7th caused flash flooding occurred due to saturated soils.
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.
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 Vernon 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 Vernon 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.