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C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Forsyth · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Forsyth than in 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forsyth gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #201 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2017.

River and rain flooding 81%Ice storms 6%Earthquakes 5%

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 81%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#201 of 247 in Missouri
Hazard risk
C−#201 of 247
in Missouri · higher than 81% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
81% of expected building damage
Flood claims
1
paid since 2017 · $6K
Disasters paid out here
11
of 18 declared for Taney County
By hazard

What Forsyth 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

81%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Ice storms

6%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Hail Strong wind Winter storms top 5% Wildfire Landslides top 3% Hurricanes Lightning 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 cold waves at 9% of Forsyth’s expected losses. Cold 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 Forsyth’s grade

River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Forsyth, and Forsyth’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 6%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Forsyth sits
Forsyth
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #201 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Forsyth’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 flooding81%Ice storms6%Earthquakes5%Everything else8%

The typical Missouri town has higher expected damage than 59% of U.S. towns; within the state, Forsyth has more expected damage per building than 81% of Missouri towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Forsyth: $929K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Forsyth 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 Forsyth flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2017

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Forsyth, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2017: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims2017
20172026
Biggest named events
  • The Late spring severe storms1 claim · $6K
1
paid claims since 2017
$6K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$6K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Forsyth isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Taney County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
1storm safe room built
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Forsyth

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

  1. 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$16K to the City of Forsyth for repairs
  2. 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding13 households applied for aid$872 aid approved$10K to the City of Forsyth for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding9 households applied for aid$36K aid approved$44K to the City of Forsyth for repairs
  4. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$12K to the City of Forsyth for repairs
  5. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding11 households applied for aid$49K aid approved$38K to the City of Forsyth for repairs
  6. 2009Severe Winter Storm$11K to the City of Forsyth for repairs
Show all 11
  1. 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado4 households applied for aid$850 aid approved
  2. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
  3. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$29K to the City of Forsyth for repairs
  4. 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding21 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
  5. 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$8K to the City of Forsyth for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in ForsythTaney County only

Taney County has had 18 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 Forsyth after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Forsyth archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Forsyth 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 ↗
Ice storms
  • Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
  • Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
  • Keep sand or salt by the door.
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 Forsyth

Is Forsyth at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forsyth has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #201 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and ice storms (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Forsyth flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Forsyth since 2017, $6K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Late spring severe storms (1).

Is Forsyth 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 Taney County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Forsyth?

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

By FEMA money that reached Forsyth, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2011): 11 households applied for aid, $49K approved, and $38K to the City of Forsyth for repairs. By flood claims, Late spring severe storms: 1 paid, $6K.

Is Forsyth at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Forsyth’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Forsyth.

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