Photo: Chris Yunker · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Maplewood faces more hazard damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maplewood gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #201 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then earthquakes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 86 claims here since 1978.
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 Maplewood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Maplewood 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 Maplewood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Maplewood, and Maplewood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 8%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #201 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Maplewood’s residents live in 4 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, Maplewood has more expected damage per building than 81% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.9M a year in losses across Maplewood: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Maplewood flood? Sometimes: 86 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Maplewood, from FEMA’s records: 18.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late July Flooding3 claims · $50K
- The Midwest Flooding3 claims · $19K
Maplewood 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Maplewood
Disasters that paid out in Maplewood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Maplewood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding30 households applied for aid$43K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2006Severe Winter Storms$14K to the City of Maplewood for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$23K to the City of Maplewood 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 Maplewood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Maplewood archive →Maplewood and its neighbors
Maplewood is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster Groves | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Richmond Heights | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Shrewsbury | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Maplewood | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 86 |
| Brentwood | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 503 |
| St. Louis | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 494 |
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 Maplewood 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 Maplewood
Is Maplewood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maplewood has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #201 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and earthquakes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Maplewood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 86 claims in Maplewood since 1978, $639K in all, or 18.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late July Flooding (3).
Is Maplewood 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 Maplewood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Maplewood’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 Maplewood?
By FEMA money that reached Maplewood, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 30 households applied for aid, $43K approved. By flood claims, Late July Flooding: 3 paid, $50K.
Is Maplewood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Maplewood’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Maplewood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Maplewood’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.