How Likely Is a Tornado in Reynolds County, MO?
Reynolds County, MO: what NOAA's tornado record says
Reynolds County has recorded 24 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 3.2 years - our Moderate band. Put another way: Reynolds County sees more tornado activity than 58% of US counties. Missouri has 115 counties in this dataset; Reynolds County ranks 62 of them by frequency.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
17 weak and 7 significant tornadoes make up Reynolds County's 24-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Reynolds County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Missouri has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Missouri this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Power loss after a tornado outbreak in Missouri often reaches homes the storm itself never touched. A battery-backup unit covers the outage without the fuel and venting a generator needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Reynolds County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 808 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Reynolds County has about 5,927 residents.