Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Ladue’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ladue gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #184 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then earthquakes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 217 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 Ladue’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ladue 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 Ladue’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ladue, and Ladue’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 8%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #184 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ladue’s residents live in 2 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, Ladue has more expected damage per building than 74% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.0M a year in losses across Ladue: $7.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ladue flood? Yes: 217 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ladue, from FEMA’s records: 61.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike44 claims · $3.9M
- The Late July Flooding23 claims · $1.4M
- The Midwest Flooding20 claims · $200K
Ladue 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ladue
Disasters that paid out in Ladue itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Ladue), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding13 households applied for aid$35K aid approved$87K to the City of Ladue for repairs29 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$7K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved47 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Winter Storms$114K to the City of Ladue 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 Ladue after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ladue archive →Ladue and its neighbors
Ladue is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Frontenac | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Richmond Heights | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Rock Hill | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 118 |
| Ladue | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 217 |
| University City | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 510 |
| Warson Woods | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Huntleigh | — | 366 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 Ladue 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 Ladue
Is Ladue at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ladue has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #184 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and earthquakes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ladue flood?
Flood insurance has paid 217 claims in Ladue since 1979, $8.8M in all, or 61.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 34 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (44).
Is Ladue 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 Ladue?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ladue’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 Ladue?
By FEMA money that reached Ladue, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 13 households applied for aid, $35K approved, and $87K to the City of Ladue for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 44 paid, $3.9M.
Is Ladue at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Ladue’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ladue.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ladue’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.