Missouri Emergency Preparedness Guide 2026

The Show-Me State lives at the crossroads of American weather. Where the Great Plains meet the Ozarks, where the Missouri River joins the Mississippi, Missouri experiences the full fury of nature's arsenal. From the historic Joplin tornado that shocked the nation to the ever-present threat of the New Madrid fault, Missouri residents face a complexity of hazards that demands serious preparation. This isn't a state where you can afford to wait and see.

Missouri's Unique Hazard Profile

Missouri's geography places it at the bullseye of multiple disaster threats. The state sits where warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cold, dry air from Canada—the recipe for violent thunderstorms and tornadoes. Two of America's mightiest rivers, the Missouri and Mississippi, meet at St. Louis, creating flood potential unmatched in most of the country. And beneath the Bootheel, the New Madrid Seismic Zone threatens an earthquake that would affect 15 states.

What makes Missouri particularly challenging is the year-round nature of its threats. Tornadoes can strike any month, ice storms paralyze the state in winter, heat waves endanger lives in summer, and flooding follows heavy rains regardless of season. The 2011 Joplin tornado served as a brutal reminder that even in an age of advanced forecasting, nature can still overwhelm communities in minutes.

Primary Disaster Threats

Tornadoes: The Show-Me State's Greatest Threat

Missouri ranks 8th nationally in tornado frequency, averaging 45 tornadoes per year. But it's the intensity, not just the quantity, that sets Missouri apart. The state has experienced some of the nation's deadliest and most destructive tornadoes, including the 2011 Joplin EF-5 that killed 158 people—the deadliest single tornado in modern American history.

The Joplin tornado struck on May 22, 2011, at 5:41 PM. Despite 20 minutes of warning time, the tornado's path through a densely populated urban area, its nearly mile-wide damage swath, and its estimated 200+ mph winds created catastrophic destruction. St. John's Regional Medical Center was devastated with patients still inside. Entire neighborhoods were erased. The tornado's death toll exceeded that of the next three deadliest tornadoes combined since 1950.

Missouri's tornado season peaks from March through June, but November and December also see significant activity. Unlike the Great Plains, where tornadoes are often visible for miles across flat terrain, Missouri's rolling hills, forests, and urban development frequently hide approaching storms until they're dangerously close. Nighttime tornadoes are also more common than in traditional Tornado Alley.

Severe Thunderstorms and Damaging Winds

Even without tornadoes, Missouri thunderstorms cause significant damage. The state experiences an average of 50+ days with severe weather annually, featuring damaging straight-line winds, large hail, and deadly lightning. Derechos—organized lines of severe storms with sustained winds over 58 mph—sweep through Missouri every few years, sometimes with 100+ mph gusts.

The May 2009 Super Derecho killed 9 people in Missouri and caused over $1 billion in damage across multiple states. Winds exceeded 100 mph in some areas, downing trees, destroying buildings, and causing extended power outages. Unlike tornadoes, which affect narrow paths, derechos can devastate entire regions simultaneously.

Large hail poses both life safety and property risks. Missouri regularly experiences hail larger than golf balls, with occasional baseball-sized events. The April 2001 hailstorm that hit St. Louis produced hail up to 4.5 inches in diameter, causing over $2 billion in damage—one of the costliest hail events in U.S. history. It destroyed cars, broke windows throughout the metro area, and damaged aircraft at Lambert Airport.

Flooding: Missouri's Costliest Hazard

While tornadoes capture attention, flooding causes more economic damage to Missouri than any other natural disaster. The confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers at St. Louis creates an enormous drainage basin that funnels water from across the Midwest through the state. When upstream rainfall is heavy, Missouri pays the price.

The Great Flood of 1993 remains the most destructive flood in modern U.S. history. The Mississippi and Missouri rivers exceeded flood stage for months, flooding over 20 million acres across nine states. In Missouri alone, over 25,000 people were evacuated, and flood damage exceeded $3 billion. The town of Valmeyer, Illinois, was completely destroyed and had to be relocated to higher ground.

Flash flooding poses equal danger in Missouri's urban and hilly areas. The topography of the Ozarks concentrates rainfall into narrow valleys, sending walls of water downstream with little warning. Urban areas like St. Louis and Kansas City see rapid flooding when storm drains are overwhelmed. The mantra "Turn Around, Don't Drown" reflects Missouri's grim statistics—more than half of flood fatalities occur in vehicles.

New Madrid Seismic Zone: The Hidden Threat

Beneath Missouri's Bootheel lies the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the most active earthquake zone east of the Rocky Mountains. While California's earthquakes are more famous, the New Madrid zone produced the most powerful earthquakes in the contiguous United States' recorded history.

The 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquake sequence included four earthquakes estimated at magnitude 7.0-7.7. These quakes rang church bells in Boston, created Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee, and temporarily reversed the Mississippi River's flow. The shaking was felt across 50,000 square miles—an area 10 times larger than the 1906 San Francisco earthquake's felt area.

Today, the New Madrid zone produces about 200 small earthquakes annually, though most go unnoticed. Scientists estimate a 25-40% probability of a magnitude 6.0+ earthquake within 50 years, and a 7-10% chance of a catastrophic 7.5+ event. Such an earthquake would cause severe damage throughout Missouri's Bootheel and southeastern region, with significant impacts felt in St. Louis, Memphis, and beyond.

The danger is compounded by infrastructure vulnerability. Unlike California, Missouri's buildings, bridges, and utilities were not designed for earthquakes. Liquefaction—where soil behaves like liquid during shaking—would be widespread in the river bottom areas. A major New Madrid earthquake could affect 7 million people and cause over $300 billion in damage.

Winter Storms and Ice

Missouri's winter weather pattern frequently produces the most dangerous type of precipitation: freezing rain. The state sits in a transition zone where warm air from the south often overrides cold surface air, creating conditions for ice accumulation that can cripple infrastructure for weeks.

The January 2007 ice storm coated much of central and southern Missouri in up to 3 inches of ice. Over 600,000 customers lost power, some for more than two weeks in January cold. The weight of ice collapsed trees, utility poles, and some structures. At least 36 deaths were attributed to the storm, many from carbon monoxide poisoning during extended outages.

Snowfall varies across Missouri, with northern counties averaging 18-24 inches annually while the southern Ozarks see 12-18 inches. But it's the ice, not snow, that causes the worst impacts. Even a half-inch of ice accumulation can snap tree limbs and power lines, while an inch or more creates catastrophic damage requiring weeks of repair.

Extreme Heat

Missouri summers combine high temperatures with high humidity, creating dangerous heat conditions. The state experiences several heat waves annually, with temperatures exceeding 100°F and heat index values approaching 115°F. Urban areas, particularly St. Louis and Kansas City, suffer from heat island effects that can add 10-15 degrees to temperatures.

The July 1980 heat wave killed 311 people in Missouri and over 1,700 nationwide. More recently, the summer of 2012 saw extended 100°F+ temperatures that stressed the power grid, damaged crops, and caused multiple heat-related deaths. Climate projections suggest Missouri will experience more frequent and intense heat waves in coming decades.

Regional Preparedness Priorities

Kansas City Metro

The Kansas City area faces tornadoes, severe storms, flooding, and winter weather. Key preparations include:

• Tornado shelter: Know your safe room location—basements are common in this region
• Flash flood awareness: Brush Creek and other urban waterways flood rapidly
• Winter preparedness: Ice storms can isolate suburbs for days
• Hail protection: Covered parking protects vehicles from large hail events
• Weather radio: Multiple counties means multiple warning areas to monitor

St. Louis Metro

St. Louis faces the full spectrum of Missouri hazards plus river flooding:

• River flooding: Know your elevation relative to Mississippi and Missouri river stages
• Tornado risk: Urban tornadoes can strike with limited visual warning
• Heat vulnerability: Urban heat island effects intensify summer dangers
• Earthquake awareness: Though 150 miles from New Madrid, strong shaking is possible
• Flash flooding: The River des Peres and urban streams flood quickly during heavy rain

Southeast Missouri (Bootheel)

The Bootheel faces earthquake risk unmatched elsewhere in Missouri:

• Earthquake preparedness: Secure furniture, know Drop-Cover-Hold On, maintain supplies
• Liquefaction risk: River bottom soils amplify shaking and can liquefy
• Flooding: Mississippi River flooding affects large areas
• Tornadoes: Flat terrain allows storms to develop rapidly
• Extended isolation: Major earthquake could isolate region for weeks

Central Missouri and Ozarks

Rural Missouri faces unique challenges:

• Extended power outages: Rural electric cooperatives may take longer to restore power
• Flash flooding: Ozark valleys concentrate rainfall dangerously
• Limited emergency services: Response times are longer—self-reliance is essential
• Ice storm vulnerability: Tree-lined roads become impassable for days
• Tornado shelters: Many older homes lack basements—consider safe room installation

Southwest Missouri (Joplin Area)

The Joplin region learned hard lessons from 2011:

• Shelter access: The community has invested heavily in safe rooms since 2011
• Warning response: Take every tornado warning seriously—don't assume it won't hit you
• Community planning: Know multiple shelter locations at work, school, and home
• Mobile homes: Never shelter in mobile homes during tornado warnings

Essential Missouri Preparedness Steps

Step 1: Establish Tornado Shelter

Every Missouri resident needs a tornado shelter plan:

• Best option: Basement corner away from windows, under sturdy stairs, or in a safe room
• If no basement: Interior room on lowest floor (bathroom, closet) away from windows
• Pre-position supplies: Helmets, sturdy shoes, flashlight, weather radio in shelter area
• Mobile home residents: Identify a sturdy building within 5 minutes and go there during warnings
• Consider safe room: FEMA-compliant safe rooms can be built into existing homes

The difference between the Joplin survivors and victims often came down to shelter quality. Those in basements, safe rooms, or reinforced areas survived. Those in frame homes without basements, in vehicles, or outdoors faced catastrophic exposure.

Step 2: Get a Weather Radio

A NOAA Weather Radio with SAME technology is the single most important weather safety device for Missouri homes. Unlike phone alerts that may be silenced, weather radios produce loud alarms that wake sleeping families during nighttime storms. Program it for your county and adjacent counties.

Keep the weather radio plugged in with fresh backup batteries. Test it weekly by pressing the alert button. Position it where you can hear it throughout your home, including from bedrooms.

Step 3: Build Emergency Supplies

Missouri's multiple hazards require comprehensive emergency supplies:

• Water: 1 gallon per person per day for 7+ days
• Food: Non-perishable supplies for 7+ days
• Medications: 30-day supply minimum
• First aid kit: Including supplies for cuts from debris
• Flashlights and batteries: LED headlamps are particularly useful
• Portable radio: Battery or hand-crank for information during outages
• Cash: Small bills—ATMs and cards fail without power
• Important documents: Waterproof container with copies of essential papers
• Full tank of gas: Stations can't pump without power

Step 4: Plan for Extended Power Outages

Missouri ice storms and tornado damage can cause week-long power outages:

• Generator sizing: Calculate needs for refrigeration, heat/cooling, medical equipment
• Fuel storage: Safely store 20+ gallons of gasoline for extended outages
• Carbon monoxide safety: Never run generators indoors; install CO detectors
• Alternative heat: If using propane heaters, ensure proper ventilation
• Device charging: Car charger adapters and portable power banks

Step 5: Know Your Flood Risk

Missouri flood risk varies dramatically by location:

• Check FEMA maps: Know your flood zone and base flood elevation
• Flood insurance: Available through NFIP even outside designated flood zones
• Monitor river stages: Bookmark USGS water data for nearby streams
• Know your escape route: Identify high ground if flooding threatens
• Never drive through flood water: Most Missouri flood deaths occur in vehicles

Month-by-Month Missouri Preparedness

Special Considerations

Mobile Home Safety

Nearly 10% of Missourians live in manufactured housing, which is extremely vulnerable to tornadoes. If you live in a mobile home:

• Identify a sturdy building within 5 minutes of your home before storm season
• Leave for shelter when tornado watch is issued—don't wait for warnings
• Install tie-downs and anchoring per manufacturer specifications
• Never shelter in a mobile home during tornado warnings—they provide no protection

Agricultural Preparedness

Missouri's agricultural economy faces significant disaster exposure:

• Livestock shelter and evacuation planning
• Crop insurance for weather-related losses
• Secure farm equipment and chemicals before storms
• Backup power for dairy operations and irrigation
• Flood response plans for bottomland farms

Business Continuity

Missouri businesses face frequent disruption from weather events:

• Develop business continuity plans for extended closures
• Maintain off-site data backups
• Review insurance coverage for weather-related damage
• Establish communication plans for employees during emergencies

Missouri Emergency Resources

• Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA): sema.dps.mo.gov
• National Weather Service St. Louis: weather.gov/lsx
• National Weather Service Kansas City: weather.gov/eax
• MoDOT Traveler Information: Real-time road conditions
• USGS Water Data: River and stream levels
• Ready.gov: Federal emergency preparedness resources

Calculate Your Missouri Preparedness Needs

Use our calculators to determine exactly what you need based on your family size, location, and specific risks: