Enter any address in Wayne County, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe weather events is the dominant flood character in Wayne County, MO. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 93 flood events and 38 flash flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on May 26, 2024, and street flooding reported in Van Buren on November 5, 2024, following heavy rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $24,988 and an average water depth of 10.5 feet. While Zone X has fewer claims, it has the highest average payout of $41,121 with an average water depth of 7.3 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in areas with unknown flood risk, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
53 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Wayne County, Missouri has recorded 131 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 38 flash floods and 93 river or area floods. The county has received 27 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 30, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires | Severe Storm | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 29, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Dec 10, 2021 |
| 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 | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Dec 22, 2015 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 8, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 24, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 24, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 16, 2023 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 3, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 26, 2024
The second major severe weather outbreak for the month occurred on the 26th for the Quad State region. On the synoptic scale, a shortwave trough centered in the middle of the country with a 60 kt mid-level jet moved across northern Arkansas. A weak surface low was moving into SE Missouri during the morning with a secondary low located further northwest. A warm frontal boundary was draped across...
Flash Flood — Jul 8, 2024
Convection developed during the afternoon of the 8th with activity most widespread between 1200-1700CST. PW values of 2-2.25 inches, bolstered by moisture from Hurricane Beryl to the southwest, resulted in torrential rainfall rates that produced isolated flooding issues. Additionally, a landspout formed south of I-57 in Mississippi County, reported via several photos and videos. Effective bulk ...
Flood — Nov 4, 2024
Multiple rounds of training heavy rain along a slow moving frontal boundary affected Southern and Eastern Missouri from the 4th through the 6th of November. Western fringes of the WFO Paducah county warning area in Carter County received 4-6 inches of rainfall in this span. Many locations further west and north from West Plains to Hillsboro in Missouri reached 7 to 10 inches of rainfall. Street...
Flash Flood — Jul 3, 2024
Storms moved through Southeast Missouri during the late afternoon and early evening hours as a cold front crossed the region. A couple storms produced wind damage. Effective bulk shear was 30-35 kts while MLCAPE was 3000-4000 J/kg ahead of the front. PW values were very high, up to 2.4 inches, allowing for very high rainfall rates. Flash flooding occurred in Williamsville, which received a rada...
Flash Flood — Mar 24, 2023
A nearly stationary front draped itself from central Texas northeast through the Ohio River Valley and produced multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms, some with very heavy rainfall. Scattered showers and thunderstorms resulted in widespread flooding of low water crossings in the hilly terrain of Carter, Wayne, and Bollinger Counties. One to three inches of rain fell across the region wit...
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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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.