FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Breckenridge Hills as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Breckenridge Hills gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #112 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then earthquakes (24%). Flood insurance has paid 153 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 stands out about Breckenridge Hills’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Breckenridge Hills 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 Breckenridge Hills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Breckenridge Hills, and Breckenridge Hills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 11%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #112 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Breckenridge Hills’ residents live in 3 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, Breckenridge Hills has less expected damage per building than 55% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Breckenridge Hills: $816K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Breckenridge Hills flood? Yes: 153 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Breckenridge Hills, from FEMA’s records: 63.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike21 claims · $420K
- The Late July Flooding9 claims · $449K
- The Early winter storms2 claims · $9K
Breckenridge Hills 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 Breckenridge Hills
Disasters that paid out in Breckenridge Hills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Breckenridge Hills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding28 households applied for aid$106K aid approved10 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved10 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado3 households applied for aid$10K aid approved21 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$12K to the City of Breckenridge Hills 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 Breckenridge Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Breckenridge Hills archive →Breckenridge Hills and its neighbors
Breckenridge Hills is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overland | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Woodson Terrace | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Breckenridge Hills | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 153 |
| St. Ann | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 60 |
| St. John | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
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 Breckenridge Hills 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 Breckenridge Hills
Is Breckenridge Hills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Breckenridge Hills has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #112 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and earthquakes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Breckenridge Hills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 153 claims in Breckenridge Hills since 1978, $2.0M in all, or 63.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 22 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (21).
Is Breckenridge Hills 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 Breckenridge Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Breckenridge Hills’ 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 Breckenridge Hills?
By FEMA money that reached Breckenridge Hills, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 28 households applied for aid, $106K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 21 paid, $420K.
Is Breckenridge Hills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Breckenridge Hills’ rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Breckenridge Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Breckenridge Hills’ 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.