Photo: Marshall Astor · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Peculiar faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Peculiar gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #118 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then tornadoes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 44 claims here since 1982.
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 Peculiar’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Peculiar 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
Tornadoes
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 Peculiar’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Peculiar, and Peculiar’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 14%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #118 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Peculiar’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, Peculiar has less expected damage per building than 52% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Peculiar: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Peculiar flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Peculiar, from FEMA’s records: 21.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Peculiar isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cass County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Peculiar
Disasters that paid out in Peculiar itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Peculiar), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the City of Peculiar for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$51K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding6 households applied for aid$7K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Severe Winter Ice Storm$78K to the City of Peculiar for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Cass County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Peculiar after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Peculiar archive →Peculiar and its neighbors
Peculiar 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raymore | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Peculiar | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
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 Peculiar 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.
- 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.
- 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 Peculiar
Is Peculiar at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Peculiar has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #118 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and tornadoes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Peculiar flood?
Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in Peculiar since 1982, $952K in all, or 21.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Peculiar 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 Cass County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Peculiar?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Peculiar’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 Peculiar?
By FEMA money that reached Peculiar, Severe Winter Ice Storm (2002): $78K to the City of Peculiar for repairs.
Is Peculiar at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Peculiar’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Peculiar.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Peculiar’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.