Photo: Roastedbeanz1 · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Holts Summit as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holts Summit gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #53 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 Holts 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
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 Holts Summit’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Holts Summit, and Holts Summit’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B #53 of 247 in Missouri; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Holts Summit’s residents live in 3 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, Holts Summit has less expected damage per building than 79% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Holts Summit: $964K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Holts Summit flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Holts Summit. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Holts 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: Callaway County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Holts Summit
Disasters that paid out in Holts Summit itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Holts Summit), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$920 aid approved
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the City of Holts Summit for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2007Severe Winter Storms$23K to the City of Holts Summit for repairs
- 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$3K to the City of Holts Summit for repairs
Show all 7
- 2006Severe Winter Storms$2K to the City of Holts Summit for repairs
Its 2 counties have had 24 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 Holts Summit after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Holts Summit archive →Get ready for what Holts 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.
- 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 Holts Summit
Is Holts Summit at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holts Summit has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #53 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Holts 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 Callaway County, 3% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Holts Summit?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Holts 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 Holts Summit?
By FEMA money that reached Holts Summit, Severe Winter Storms (2007): $23K to the City of Holts Summit for repairs.
Is Holts Summit at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Holts Summit’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Holts Summit.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Holts 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.