Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Black Jack than in 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Black Jack gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #157 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then earthquakes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Black Jack 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 Black Jack’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Black Jack, and Black Jack’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 9%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C #157 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Black Jack’s 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, Black Jack has more expected damage per building than 63% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.2M a year in losses across Black Jack: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Black Jack flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Black Jack, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Black Jack 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Black Jack
Disasters that paid out in Black Jack itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Black Jack), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires5 households applied for aid$300 aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding46 households applied for aid$121K aid approved
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding1 households applied for aid$614 aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$885 aid approved
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 Black Jack after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Black Jack archive →Black Jack and its neighbors
Black Jack is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florissant | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 276 |
| Black Jack | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Old Jamestown | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 Black Jack 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 Black Jack
Is Black Jack at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Black Jack has higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #157 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and earthquakes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Black Jack flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Black Jack since 1979, $856 in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Black Jack 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 Black Jack?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Black Jack’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 Black Jack?
By FEMA money that reached Black Jack, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 46 households applied for aid, $121K approved.
Is Black Jack at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Black Jack’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Black Jack.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Black Jack’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.