Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0FEMA puts Boonville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boonville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #45 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1983.
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 Boonville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Boonville 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
Tornadoes
Earthquakes
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 Boonville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Boonville, and Boonville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B #45 of 247 in Missouri; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Boonville’s residents live in 4 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, Boonville has less expected damage per building than 82% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Boonville: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Boonville flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Boonville, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding1 claim · $5K
Boonville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cooper County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Boonville
Disasters that paid out in Boonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Boonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2021Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$649K to the City of Boonville for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$10K to the City of Boonville for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the City of Boonville for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding9 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Cooper County has had 19 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 Boonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Boonville archive →Boonville and its neighbors
Boonville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boonville | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Windsor Place | — | 405 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 Boonville 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Boonville
Is Boonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boonville has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #45 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Boonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Boonville since 1983, $24K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (1).
Is Boonville 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 Cooper County, 3% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Boonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Boonville’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 Boonville?
By FEMA money that reached Boonville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2021): $649K to the City of Boonville for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 1 paid, $5K.
Is Boonville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Boonville’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Boonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Boonville’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.