Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Florissant than in 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Florissant gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #157 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then earthquakes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 276 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 Florissant’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Florissant 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 Florissant’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Florissant, and Florissant’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 9%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C #157 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Florissant’s residents live in 18 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, Florissant has more expected damage per building than 63% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $31.7M a year in losses across Florissant: $12.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Florissant flood? Yes: 276 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Florissant, from FEMA’s records: 12.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike83 claims · $1.8M
- The Late July Flooding29 claims · $2.6M
- The Early winter storms18 claims · $254K
Florissant is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: St. Louis County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Florissant
Disasters that paid out in Florissant itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Florissant), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding466 households applied for aid$858K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires613 households applied for aid$689K aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding2,029 households applied for aid$3.8M aid approved$47K to the City of Florissant for repairs30 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding136 households applied for aid$95K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding278 households applied for aid$281K aid approved$11K to the City of Florissant for repairs19 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding36 households applied for aid$22K aid approved
Show all 12
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado255 households applied for aid$323K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding21 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$758 to the City of Florissant for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storms$194K to the City of Florissant for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$180K to the City of Florissant for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding9 households applied for aid$4K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
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 Florissant after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Florissant archive →Florissant and its neighbors
Florissant is 4th of the 6 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 | — |
| Hazelwood | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 279 |
| Black Jack | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Florissant | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 276 |
| Ferguson | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 283 |
| Old Jamestown | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 Florissant 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.
- Florissant residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Florissant
Is Florissant at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Florissant has higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #157 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and earthquakes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Florissant flood?
Flood insurance has paid 276 claims in Florissant since 1978, $5.4M in all, or 12.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 23 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (83).
Is Florissant 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 Florissant?
Florissant is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Florissant?
By FEMA money that reached Florissant, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 2,029 households applied for aid, $3.8M approved, and $47K to the City of Florissant for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 83 paid, $1.8M.
Is Florissant at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Florissant’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Florissant.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Florissant’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.