Photo: Mitch Harden · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Cottleville faces more hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cottleville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #238 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 27 claims here since 1982.
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 Cottleville 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
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 Cottleville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cottleville, and Cottleville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
D #238 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cottleville’s residents live in 6 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, Cottleville has more expected damage per building than 96% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Cottleville: $4.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cottleville flood? Sometimes: 27 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cottleville, from FEMA’s records: 11.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late July Flooding4 claims · $78K
- The Early winter storms4 claims · $41K
Cottleville 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. Charles County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Cottleville
Disasters that paid out in Cottleville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cottleville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$431 aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
St. Charles County has had 24 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 Cottleville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cottleville archive →Cottleville and its neighbors
Cottleville is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Peters | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| O'Fallon | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Cottleville | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
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 Cottleville 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.
- 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 Cottleville
Is Cottleville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cottleville has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #238 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cottleville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 27 claims in Cottleville since 1982, $314K in all, or 11.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late July Flooding (4).
Is Cottleville 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. Charles County, 35% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cottleville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cottleville’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 Cottleville?
By FEMA money that reached Cottleville, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 2 households applied for aid, $431 approved. By flood claims, Late July Flooding: 4 paid, $78K.
Is Cottleville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Cottleville’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cottleville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cottleville’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.