Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Bellefontaine Neighbors faces more hazard damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bellefontaine Neighbors gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #186 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then earthquakes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 68 claims here since 1978.
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 Bellefontaine Neighbors 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 Bellefontaine Neighbors’ grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bellefontaine Neighbors, and Bellefontaine Neighbors’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 8%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #186 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bellefontaine Neighbors’ residents live in 5 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, Bellefontaine Neighbors has more expected damage per building than 75% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.8M a year in losses across Bellefontaine Neighbors: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bellefontaine Neighbors flood? Sometimes: 68 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bellefontaine Neighbors, from FEMA’s records: 14.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding33 claims · $804K
- Hurricane Ike9 claims · $28K
- The Late July Flooding4 claims · $25K
Bellefontaine Neighbors 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bellefontaine Neighbors
Disasters that paid out in Bellefontaine Neighbors itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding31 households applied for aid$87K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$111K to the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Winter Storms$24K to the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$41K to the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors 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 Bellefontaine Neighbors after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bellefontaine Neighbors archive →Bellefontaine Neighbors and its neighbors
Bellefontaine Neighbors is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverview | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Spanish Lake | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Glasgow Village | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Bellefontaine Neighbors | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Jennings | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| St. Louis | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 494 |
| Moline Acres | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Castle Point | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Bellefontaine Neighbors 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 Bellefontaine Neighbors
Is Bellefontaine Neighbors at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bellefontaine Neighbors has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #186 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and earthquakes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bellefontaine Neighbors flood?
Flood insurance has paid 68 claims in Bellefontaine Neighbors since 1978, $913K in all, or 14.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (33).
Is Bellefontaine Neighbors 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 Bellefontaine Neighbors?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bellefontaine Neighbors’ 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 Bellefontaine Neighbors?
By FEMA money that reached Bellefontaine Neighbors, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2011): 1 households applied for aid, $3K approved, and $111K to the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 33 paid, $804K.
Is Bellefontaine Neighbors at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Bellefontaine Neighbors’ rate for it is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bellefontaine Neighbors.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bellefontaine Neighbors’ 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.