Norwood Hills Country Club · Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Jennings faces more hazard damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jennings gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #215 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then earthquakes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 12 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 Jennings 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 Jennings’ grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Jennings, and Jennings’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 7%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #215 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Jennings’ residents live in 7 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, Jennings has more expected damage per building than 87% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.0M a year in losses across Jennings: $3.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Jennings flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Jennings, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike4 claims · $33K
Jennings 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Jennings
Disasters that paid out in Jennings itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Jennings), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires3 households applied for aid$300 aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding126 households applied for aid$305K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado29 households applied for aid$35K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$550 aid approved
Show all 9
- 2006Severe Winter Storms$55K to the City of Jennings for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$33K to the City of Jennings for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding7 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
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 Jennings after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Jennings archive →Jennings and its neighbors
Jennings 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Lawn | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Northwoods | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 85 |
| Ferguson | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 283 |
| Bellefontaine Neighbors | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Jennings | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| St. Louis | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 494 |
| Country Club Hills | — | 854 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Norwood Court | — | 797 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 Jennings 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 Jennings
Is Jennings at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jennings has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #215 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and earthquakes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Jennings flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Jennings since 1979, $59K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (4).
Is Jennings 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 Jennings?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Jennings’ 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 Jennings?
By FEMA money that reached Jennings, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 126 households applied for aid, $305K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 4 paid, $33K.
Is Jennings at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Jennings’ rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Jennings.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Jennings’ 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.