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Eureka, MissouriPhoto: FormalDude · CC BY-SA 4.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Eureka · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Eureka faces more hazard damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Eureka gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #196 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 413 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 79%Earthquakes 9%Hail 8%

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

more than 80%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#196 of 247 in Missouri
Hazard risk
C−#196 of 247
in Missouri · higher than 80% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
79% of expected building damage
Flood claims
413
paid since 1979 · $5.7M
Flooded more than once
19
properties · 6 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
7
of 30 declared for St. Louis County

What stands out about Eureka’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

413 paid flood claims since 1979$5.7M in all; 19 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 95% of U.S. towns.Landslides: the top 1% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for landslides here ranks in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts; it is 0.6% of the damage it expects.Moved out of harm’s way114 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 1993117 flood claims were paid for 1993 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Eureka 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

79%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

9%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

8%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Ice storms Landslides top 1% Winter storms Wildfire Lightning Hurricanes Strong wind Cold waves Heat waves
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 29% of Eureka’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 Eureka’s grade

River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Eureka, and Eureka’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 8%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Eureka sits
Eureka
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #196 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Eureka’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding79%Earthquakes9%Hail8%Everything else4%

The typical Missouri town has higher expected damage than 59% of U.S. towns; within the state, Eureka has more expected damage per building than 79% of Missouri towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.0M a year in losses across Eureka: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Eureka covers 3 census tracts, combined by where 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 Eureka flood? Yes: 413 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Eureka, from FEMA’s records: 86.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 7 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 2 claims1982: 33 claims1983: 12 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 9 claims1986: 45 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 74 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 31 claims1993: 117 claims1994: 12 claims1995: 2 claims1996: 2 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 3 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 13 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 22 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 22 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 5 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198619901993
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Midwest Flooding26 claims · $68K
  • The Early winter storms22 claims · $2.0M
413
paid claims since 1979
$5.7M
paid to owners
19
homes flooded more than once
$14K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (6)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Eureka 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.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
114flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Eureka

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

  1. 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding107 households applied for aid$348K aid approved$285K to the City of Eureka for repairs22 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding213 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$233K to the City of Eureka for repairs22 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  4. 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
  5. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding77 households applied for aid$284K aid approved
  6. 2006Severe Winter Storms$12K to the City of Eureka for repairs
Show all 7
  1. 2006Severe Storms$1K to the City of Eureka for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in EurekaSt. 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 Eureka after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Eureka archive →
Next door

Eureka and its neighbors

Eureka is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Wildwood: hazard risk B−Pacific: hazard risk DWildwoodPacificEureka
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
WildwoodB−more damage than 52%river and rain flooding17
EurekaC−more damage than 80%river and rain flooding413
PacificDmore damage than 86%river and rain flooding425

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 Eureka 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 Eureka

Is Eureka at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Eureka has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #196 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and earthquakes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Eureka flood?

Flood insurance has paid 413 claims in Eureka since 1979, $5.7M in all, or 86.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 19 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (26).

Is Eureka 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 Eureka?

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

By FEMA money that reached Eureka, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2015): 213 households applied for aid, $1.4M approved, and $233K to the City of Eureka for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 26 paid, $68K.

Is Eureka at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Eureka’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Eureka.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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