FEMA puts Murphy’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Murphy gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #220 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then earthquakes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 13 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 Murphy 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
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 Murphy’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Murphy, and Murphy’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 5%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #220 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Murphy’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, Murphy has more expected damage per building than 89% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Murphy: $3.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Murphy flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Murphy, from FEMA’s records: 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March storm1 claim · $8K
Murphy isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jefferson County.The storms Murphy remembers
None of the 26 disasters declared for Jefferson County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Murphy itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19832 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19852 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19932 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Jefferson County
Jefferson County has had 26 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 Murphy after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Murphy archive →Murphy and its neighbors
Murphy is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fenton | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 606 |
| Murphy | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
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 Murphy 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.
- 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 Murphy
Is Murphy at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Murphy has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #220 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and earthquakes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Murphy flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Murphy since 1979, $62K in all, or 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March storm (1).
Is Murphy 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 Jefferson County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Murphy?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Murphy’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 Murphy?
By flood claims, March storm: 1 paid, $8K.
Is Murphy at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Murphy’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Murphy.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Murphy’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.