Wildwood House · Photo: Chuck Morris · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Ferguson faces more hazard damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ferguson gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #174 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then earthquakes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 283 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 Ferguson’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ferguson 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 Ferguson’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ferguson, and Ferguson’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 10%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #174 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ferguson’s residents live in 10 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, Ferguson has more expected damage per building than 70% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.8M a year in losses across Ferguson: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ferguson flood? Yes: 283 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ferguson, from FEMA’s records: 30.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike57 claims · $1.4M
- The Late July Flooding45 claims · $1.7M
- The Early winter storms5 claims · $17K
Ferguson 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ferguson
Disasters that paid out in Ferguson itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Ferguson), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding10 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires4 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding294 households applied for aid$677K aid approved$365K to the City of Ferguson for repairs47 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding2 households applied for aid$307 aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding30 households applied for aid$58K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$536K to the City of Ferguson for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding154 households applied for aid$130K aid approved$355K to the City of Ferguson for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado88 households applied for aid$236K aid approved65 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Winter Storms$21K to the City of Ferguson for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$142K to the City of Ferguson 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 Ferguson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ferguson archive →Ferguson and its neighbors
Ferguson is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calverton Park | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Berkeley | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Normandy | B−less damage than 50% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Florissant | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 276 |
| Ferguson | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 283 |
| Dellwood | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Cool Valley | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Jennings | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Kinloch | — | 322 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 Ferguson 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 Ferguson
Is Ferguson at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ferguson has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #174 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and earthquakes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ferguson flood?
Flood insurance has paid 283 claims in Ferguson since 1978, $4.6M in all, or 30.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 35 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (57).
Is Ferguson 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 Ferguson?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ferguson’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 Ferguson?
By FEMA money that reached Ferguson, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 294 households applied for aid, $677K approved, and $365K to the City of Ferguson for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 57 paid, $1.4M.
Is Ferguson at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Ferguson’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ferguson.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ferguson’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.