Photo: Dave Herholz from St. Louis, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Ballwin than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ballwin gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #135 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then earthquakes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 38 claims here since 1979.
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 Ballwin’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ballwin 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
Earthquakes
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 Ballwin’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ballwin, and Ballwin’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 10%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #135 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ballwin’s residents live in 9 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, Ballwin has more expected damage per building than 54% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $21.0M a year in losses across Ballwin: $9.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ballwin flood? Sometimes: 38 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ballwin, from FEMA’s records: 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding1 claim · $747
Ballwin isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Louis County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ballwin
Disasters that paid out in Ballwin itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Ballwin), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding11 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires8 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding159 households applied for aid$11K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding11 households applied for aid$100K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding36 households applied for aid$139K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado6 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
Show all 10
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$158K to the City of Ballwin for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storms$57K to the City of Ballwin for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$5K to the City of Ballwin for repairs
St. Louis County has had 30 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Ballwin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ballwin archive →Ballwin and its neighbors
Ballwin is 5th of the 7 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
| Ellisville | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Town and Country | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Clarkson Valley | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ballwin | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Winchester | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Manchester | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 60 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Ballwin 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Ballwin
Is Ballwin at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ballwin has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #135 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and earthquakes (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ballwin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 38 claims in Ballwin since 1979, $805K in all, or 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (1).
Is Ballwin 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 St. Louis County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ballwin?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ballwin’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 Ballwin?
By FEMA money that reached Ballwin, Severe Winter Storms and Flooding (2007): $158K to the City of Ballwin for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 1 paid, $747.
Is Ballwin at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Ballwin’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ballwin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ballwin’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.