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Chesterfield, MissouriPhoto: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0
B−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Chesterfield · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Chesterfield faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chesterfield gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #75 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then earthquakes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 48 claims here since 1993.

River and rain flooding 62%Earthquakes 19%Hail 13%

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

less than 53%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#75 of 247 in Missouri
Hazard risk
B−#75 of 247
in Missouri · lower than 53% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
62% of expected building damage
Flood claims
48
paid since 1993 · $5.4M
Flooded more than once
6
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
8
of 30 declared for St. Louis County
By hazard

What Chesterfield 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

62%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

19%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

13%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Ice storms Winter storms Lightning Wildfire Hurricanes Strong wind Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 31% of Chesterfield’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Chesterfield’s grade

River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chesterfield, and Chesterfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 13%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Chesterfield sits
Chesterfield
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B− #75 of 247 in Missouri; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Chesterfield’s residents live in 16 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding62%Earthquakes19%Hail13%Everything else6%

The typical Missouri town has higher expected damage than 59% of U.S. towns; within the state, Chesterfield has less expected damage per building than 70% of Missouri towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $40.2M a year in losses across Chesterfield: $22.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 16 census tracts by where Chesterfield’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Chesterfield flood? Sometimes: 48 flood claims since 1993

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chesterfield, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1993: 38 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 1 claim1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 2 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 4 claims2016: 1 claim2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199320082015
19932026
Biggest named events
  • The Midwest Flooding32 claims · $5.0M
  • The Early winter storms3 claims · $12K
  • Hurricane Ike2 claims · $91K
48
paid claims since 1993
$5.4M
paid to owners
6
homes flooded more than once
$112K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Chesterfield 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.
Disasters

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chesterfield

Disasters that paid out in Chesterfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Chesterfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding29 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
  2. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires16 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  3. 2022Severe Storms and Flooding96 households applied for aid$28K aid approved
  4. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding14 households applied for aid$13K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado8 households applied for aid$10K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$197K to the City of Chesterfield for repairs
Show all 8
  1. 2006Severe Winter Storms$65K to the City of Chesterfield for repairs
  2. 2006Severe Storms$21K to the City of Chesterfield for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in ChesterfieldSt. Louis County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Chesterfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Chesterfield archive →
Next door

Chesterfield and its neighbors

Chesterfield has the lowest expected damage per building of the 8 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Town and Country: hazard risk B−Wildwood: hazard risk B−Ballwin: hazard risk C+Creve Coeur: hazard risk C+Clarkson Valley: hazard risk C+Maryland Heights: hazard risk C+Weldon Spring: hazard risk CTown and CountryWildwoodBallwinCreve CoeurClarkson ValleyMaryland HeightsWeldon SpringChesterfield
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
ChesterfieldB−less damage than 53%river and rain flooding48
Town and CountryB−more damage than 51%river and rain flooding13
WildwoodB−more damage than 52%river and rain flooding17
Clarkson ValleyC+more damage than 56%river and rain flooding1
Maryland HeightsC+more damage than 57%river and rain flooding43
Creve CoeurC+more damage than 60%river and rain flooding15
BallwinC+more damage than 62%river and rain flooding38
Weldon SpringCmore damage than 70%river and rain flooding1

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Chesterfield faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Chesterfield

Is Chesterfield at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chesterfield has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #75 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and earthquakes (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Chesterfield flood?

Flood insurance has paid 48 claims in Chesterfield since 1993, $5.4M in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (32).

Is Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chesterfield’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 Chesterfield?

By FEMA money that reached Chesterfield, Severe Winter Storms and Flooding (2007): $197K to the City of Chesterfield for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 32 paid, $5.0M.

Is Chesterfield at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Chesterfield’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chesterfield.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chesterfield’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.