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Stone County MO Courthouse 20151021-050Photo: Kbh3rd · CC BY 4.0
–Not graded
Natural hazards in Galena · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Galena

Galena isn’t graded for hazard risk: Galena has 550 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 2008.

Flood claims
9
paid since 2008 · $349K
Flooded more than once
4
properties
Disasters paid out here
8
of 19 declared for Stone County
By hazard

What Galena 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

80%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

6%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 18 years in the area

Ice storms

5%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
 Strong wind top 4% Hail Earthquakes Winter storms top 5% Landslides top 1% Wildfire Lightning top 1% Hurricanes 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 strong wind at 32% of Galena’s expected losses. Strong wind does little damage to buildings (3.7%), 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.
Flood insurance claims

Does Galena flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 2008

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Galena, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year
2008: 2 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 3 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 4 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200820152017
20082026
Biggest named events
  • The Late spring severe storms4 claims · $183K
  • The Early winter storms3 claims · $88K
  • The March storm2 claims · $78K
9
paid claims since 2008
$349K
paid to owners
4
homes flooded more than once
$39K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

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

Insurance rates: Stone County.
Disasters

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Galena

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

  1. 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding26 households applied for aid$25K aid approved$66K to the City of Galena for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding13 households applied for aid$66K aid approved$41K to the City of Galena for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding11 households applied for aid$39K aid approved
  4. 2009Severe Winter Storm$3K to the City of Galena for repairs
  5. 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado15 households applied for aid$21K aid approved
  6. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding17 households applied for aid$96K aid approved
Show all 8
  1. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding44 households applied for aid$299K aid approved$23K to the City of Galena for repairs
  2. 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in GalenaStone County only

Stone County has had 19 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 Galena after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Galena archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Galena 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 ↗
Tornado warnings
  • Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
  • A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
  • Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
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 Galena

Does Galena flood?

Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Galena since 2008, $349K in all. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late spring severe storms (4).

Is Galena 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 Stone County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Galena?

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

By FEMA money that reached Galena, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 44 households applied for aid, $299K approved, and $23K to the City of Galena for repairs. By flood claims, Late spring severe storms: 4 paid, $183K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Galena.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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