Bethel Church · Photo: Jon Roanhaus · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Gray Summit than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gray Summit gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #216 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Gray Summit 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
Tornadoes
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 Gray Summit’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gray Summit, and Gray Summit’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #216 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gray Summit’s residents live in 4 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, Gray Summit has more expected damage per building than 87% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Gray Summit: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gray Summit flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Gray Summit. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Gray Summit isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gray Summit
Disasters that paid out in Gray Summit itself (aid to households or repair grants to Gray Summit), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires3 households applied for aid$770 aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding4 households applied for aid$47K aid approved
Franklin County has had 20 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 Gray Summit after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gray Summit archive →Gray Summit and its neighbors
Gray Summit has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gray Summit | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Pacific | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 425 |
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 Gray Summit 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.
- 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.
- 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 Gray Summit
Is Gray Summit at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gray Summit has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #216 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Gray Summit 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 Franklin County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Gray Summit?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gray Summit’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 Gray Summit?
By FEMA money that reached Gray Summit, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2015): 4 households applied for aid, $47K approved.
Is Gray Summit at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Gray Summit’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gray Summit.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gray Summit’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.