FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Berkeley as in the typical U.S. town, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berkeley gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #74 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%), then earthquakes (36%). Flood insurance has paid 11 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 Berkeley 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 Berkeley’s grade
River and rain flooding is 45% of the building damage FEMA expects in Berkeley, and Berkeley’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 12%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #74 of 247 in Missouri; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Berkeley’s residents live in 7 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, Berkeley has less expected damage per building than 70% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.2M a year in losses across Berkeley: $5.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Berkeley flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Berkeley, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Berkeley 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 Berkeley
Disasters that paid out in Berkeley itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Berkeley), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding69 households applied for aid$87K aid approved$469K to the City of Berkeley for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding25 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$154K to the City of Berkeley for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding89 households applied for aid$107K aid approved$289K to the City of Berkeley for repairs
Show all 10
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado18 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$841 aid approved
- 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$17K to the City of Berkeley for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$55K to the City of Berkeley 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 Berkeley after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Berkeley archive →Berkeley and its neighbors
Berkeley has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Woodson Terrace | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Hazelwood | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 279 |
| Bel-Ridge | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| St. John | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Ferguson | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 283 |
| Cool Valley | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Kinloch | — | 322 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Berkeley 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 Berkeley
Is Berkeley at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berkeley has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #74 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (45%) and earthquakes (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Berkeley flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Berkeley since 1978, $58K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Berkeley 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 Berkeley?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Berkeley’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 Berkeley?
By FEMA money that reached Berkeley, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 69 households applied for aid, $87K approved, and $469K to the City of Berkeley for repairs.
Is Berkeley at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (45%), and Berkeley’s rate for it is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Berkeley.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Berkeley’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.