Curtiss-Wright Aeroplane Factory · Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Hazelwood as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hazelwood gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #104 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%), then earthquakes (28%). Flood insurance has paid 279 claims here since 1979.
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 Hazelwood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hazelwood 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 Hazelwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hazelwood, and Hazelwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 12%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #104 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hazelwood’s residents live in 9 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, Hazelwood has less expected damage per building than 58% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.5M a year in losses across Hazelwood: $8.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hazelwood flood? Yes: 279 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hazelwood, from FEMA’s records: 22.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike53 claims · $5.3M
- The Late July Flooding48 claims · $11.4M
- The Late spring storms28 claims · $1.1M
Hazelwood 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hazelwood
Disasters that paid out in Hazelwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hazelwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding72 households applied for aid$72K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires117 households applied for aid$89K aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding828 households applied for aid$2.1M aid approved$78K to the City of Hazelwood for repairs50 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding6 households applied for aid$4K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding19 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$22K to the City of Hazelwood for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$54K to the City of Hazelwood for repairs
Show all 11
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado178 households applied for aid$517K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$619 aid approved
- 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$83K to the City of Hazelwood for repairs
- 2006Severe Winter Storms$98K to the City of Hazelwood for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$50K to the City of Hazelwood for repairs
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 Hazelwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hazelwood archive →Hazelwood and its neighbors
Hazelwood is 3rd of the 5 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 | — |
| Berkeley | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Hazelwood | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 279 |
| Florissant | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 276 |
| Bridgeton | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
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 Hazelwood 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 Hazelwood
Is Hazelwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hazelwood has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #104 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%) and earthquakes (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hazelwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 279 claims in Hazelwood since 1979, $21.9M in all, or 22.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 40 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (53).
Is Hazelwood 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 Hazelwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hazelwood’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 Hazelwood?
By FEMA money that reached Hazelwood, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 828 households applied for aid, $2.1M approved, and $78K to the City of Hazelwood for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 53 paid, $5.3M.
Is Hazelwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Hazelwood’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hazelwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hazelwood’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.