Photo: Kbh3rd · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Harrisonville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harrisonville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #56 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then tornadoes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 1982.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Harrisonville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Harrisonville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Hail
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Harrisonville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Harrisonville, and Harrisonville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 17%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B #56 of 247 in Missouri; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Harrisonville’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Missouri town has higher expected damage than 59% of U.S. towns; within the state, Harrisonville has less expected damage per building than 78% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Harrisonville: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Harrisonville flood? Sometimes: 22 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Harrisonville, from FEMA’s records: 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Harrisonville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cass County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Harrisonville
Disasters that paid out in Harrisonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Harrisonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the City of Harrisonville for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$31K to the City of Harrisonville for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2002Severe Winter Ice Storm$461K to the City of Harrisonville for repairs
Cass County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Harrisonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Harrisonville archive →Get ready for what Harrisonville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Harrisonville
Is Harrisonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harrisonville has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #56 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and tornadoes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Harrisonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 22 claims in Harrisonville since 1982, $1.3M in all, or 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Harrisonville in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Cass County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Harrisonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Harrisonville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Harrisonville?
By FEMA money that reached Harrisonville, Severe Winter Ice Storm (2002): $461K to the City of Harrisonville for repairs.
Is Harrisonville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Harrisonville’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Harrisonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Harrisonville’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.