FEMA puts Liberty Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Liberty Township gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #234 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (56%), then river and rain flooding (23%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1991.
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 Liberty Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
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 Liberty Township’s grade
Earthquakes are 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Liberty Township, and Liberty Township’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 11%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #234 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Liberty Township’s 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, Liberty Township has more expected damage per building than 95% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.6M a year in losses across Liberty Township: $8.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Liberty Township flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1991
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Liberty Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $10K
Liberty Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Stoddard County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Liberty Township
Disasters that paid out in Liberty Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Liberty Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$35K to Liberty Township for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$6K to Liberty Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$15K to Liberty Township for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$21K to Liberty Township for repairs
Stoddard 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 Liberty Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Liberty Township archive →Liberty Township and its neighbors
Liberty Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Township | Dmore damage than 87% | earthquakes | 7 |
| Castor Township | Dmore damage than 87% | earthquakes | 19 |
| Richland Township | Dmore damage than 87% | earthquakes | — |
| Duck Creek Township | Dmore damage than 88% | earthquakes | 31 |
| Liberty Township | Dmore damage than 89% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Cotton Hill Township | Dmore damage than 91% | earthquakes | 2 |
| Elk Township | — | 209 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 Liberty Township faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Liberty Township
Is Liberty Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Liberty Township has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #234 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (56%) and river and rain flooding (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Liberty Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Liberty Township since 1991, $93K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (1).
Is Liberty Township 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 Stoddard County, 1.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Liberty Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Liberty Township’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 Liberty Township?
By FEMA money that reached Liberty Township, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2015): $35K to Liberty Township for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 1 paid, $10K.
Is Liberty Township at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Liberty Township’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Liberty Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Liberty Township’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.