Photo: Tristan Arbet · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Frontenac faces more hazard damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Frontenac gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #153 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then earthquakes (24%). Flood insurance has paid 37 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 Frontenac 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 Frontenac’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Frontenac, and Frontenac’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 10%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #153 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Frontenac’s residents live in 2 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, Frontenac has more expected damage per building than 62% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.1M a year in losses across Frontenac: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Frontenac flood? Sometimes: 37 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Frontenac, from FEMA’s records: 30.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike6 claims · $570K
- The Late July Flooding3 claims · $733K
- The Midwest Flooding3 claims · $23K
Frontenac 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.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Frontenac
Disasters that paid out in Frontenac itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Frontenac), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$22K to the City of Frontenac for repairs1 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 Frontenac after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Frontenac archive →Frontenac and its neighbors
Frontenac is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town and Country | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Kirkwood | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 123 |
| Creve Coeur | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Des Peres | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Frontenac | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Ladue | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 217 |
| Huntleigh | — | 366 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Westwood | — | 338 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Crystal Lake Park | — | 553 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 Frontenac 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 Frontenac
Is Frontenac at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Frontenac has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #153 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and earthquakes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Frontenac flood?
Flood insurance has paid 37 claims in Frontenac since 1978, $2.8M in all, or 30.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (6).
Is Frontenac 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 Frontenac?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Frontenac’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 Frontenac?
By FEMA money that reached Frontenac, Severe Winter Storms and Flooding (2007): $22K to the City of Frontenac for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 6 paid, $570K.
Is Frontenac at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Frontenac’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Frontenac.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Frontenac’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.