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C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Maryland Heights · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Maryland Heights as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maryland Heights gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #115 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then earthquakes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 43 claims here since 1993.

River and rain flooding 62%Earthquakes 20%Hail 12%

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

more than 57%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#115 of 247 in Missouri
Hazard risk
C+#115 of 247
in Missouri · higher than 57% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
62% of expected building damage
Flood claims
43
paid since 1993 · $2.5M
Flooded more than once
7
properties · 2 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
10% off
Community discount (class 8)

What stands out about Maryland Heights’ natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

10% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Maryland Heights residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8).Moved out of harm’s way1 flood-prone property bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 202215 flood claims were paid for 2022 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Maryland Heights 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

62%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

20%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

12%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Ice storms Winter storms Lightning Hurricanes Strong wind Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 37% of Maryland Heights’ expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Maryland Heights’ grade

River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Maryland Heights, and Maryland Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 12%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Maryland Heights sits
Maryland Heights
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #115 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Maryland Heights’ residents live in 13 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding62%Earthquakes20%Hail12%Everything else6%

The typical Missouri town has higher expected damage than 59% of U.S. towns; within the state, Maryland Heights has less expected damage per building than 54% of Missouri towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $19.4M a year in losses across Maryland Heights: $9.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 13 census tracts by where Maryland Heights’ residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Maryland Heights flood? Sometimes: 43 flood claims since 1993

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Maryland Heights, from FEMA’s records: 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1993: 4 claims1994: 2 claims1995: 1 claim1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 7 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 2 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 5 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 3 claims2020: 2 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 15 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 1 claim2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200820152022
19932026
Biggest named events
  • The Late July Flooding15 claims · $1.4M
  • Hurricane Ike5 claims · $241K
  • The Midwest Flooding4 claims · $128K
43
paid claims since 1993
$2.5M
paid to owners
7
homes flooded more than once
$59K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount10% off flood insurance

Maryland Heights is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: St. Louis County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
1flood-prone property bought out and cleared
Disasters

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Maryland Heights

Disasters that paid out in Maryland Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Maryland Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding20 households applied for aid$30K aid approved
  2. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires12 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  3. 2022Severe Storms and Flooding198 households applied for aid$763K aid approved$744K to the City of Maryland Heights for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
  5. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding10 households applied for aid$734 aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding122 households applied for aid$56K aid approved$221K to the City of Maryland Heights for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
  1. 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado5 households applied for aid$6K aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$56K to the City of Maryland Heights for repairs
  3. 2006Severe Winter Storms$38K to the City of Maryland Heights for repairs
  4. 2006Severe Storms$32K to the City of Maryland Heights for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Maryland HeightsSt. Louis County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Maryland Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Maryland Heights archive →
Next door

Maryland Heights and its neighbors

Maryland Heights is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Bridgeton: hazard risk CChamp: not gradedChesterfield: hazard risk B−BridgetonChampChesterfieldMaryland Heights
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
ChesterfieldB−less damage than 53%river and rain flooding48
Maryland HeightsC+more damage than 57%river and rain flooding43
BridgetonCmore damage than 75%river and rain flooding24
Champ—6 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Maryland Heights faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hail
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
  • Maryland Heights residents get 10% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Maryland Heights

Is Maryland Heights at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maryland Heights has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #115 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and earthquakes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Maryland Heights flood?

Flood insurance has paid 43 claims in Maryland Heights since 1993, $2.5M in all, or 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late July Flooding (15).

Is Maryland Heights 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 Maryland Heights?

Maryland Heights is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Maryland Heights?

By FEMA money that reached Maryland Heights, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 198 households applied for aid, $763K approved, and $744K to the City of Maryland Heights for repairs. By flood claims, Late July Flooding: 15 paid, $1.4M.

Is Maryland Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Maryland Heights’ rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Maryland Heights.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Maryland Heights’ 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.