Natural hazards · Bethel

Bethel, MO natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Bethel comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Bethel?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Bethel to be higher than in 53% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and heat waves.

Inland flooding33%Heat waves22%Lightning14%Tornadoes12%Drought6%Cold waves5%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Bethel faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

33% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Heat waves

22% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 9 times a year in the area

Lightning

14% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 10 years in the area

Drought

6% of expected damage

Recorded about 8 times a year in the area

Cold waves

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong wind

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Bethel flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Bethel.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Bethel isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Shelby County.

Disasters that hit Bethel

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Bethel itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Village of Bethel.

Brought FEMA money into BethelDeclared for Shelby County only

2019

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$8K to the Village of Bethel for repairs

2015

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$12K to the Village of Bethel for repairs

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$6K to the Village of Bethel for repairs

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$2K to the Village of Bethel for repairs

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

$19K to the Village of Bethel for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

$14K to the Village of Bethel for repairs

2002

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$6K to the Village of Bethel for repairs

Shelby County has had 24 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and ice storms.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Bethel is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Bethel’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Village of Bethel. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.