Putnam County
Missouri — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 8th
Putnam County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 8.2, 8th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $3M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 0.60 / yr | $34K |
| Drought | Medium | 17.53 / yr | $452K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.95 / yr | $256K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.26 / yr | $778K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $21K |
| Hail | Low | 3.67 / yr | $144K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 4.74 / yr | $347K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.42 / yr | $189K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 46.30 / yr | $65K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $21K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $4K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 10.74 / yr | $6K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Putnam County?
Putnam County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 8.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 8th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Putnam County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $34K EAL), Drought (Medium, $452K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $256K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Putnam County compare to other Missouri counties?
Putnam County ranks #113 of 115 Missouri counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Putnam County's $3M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.