On FEMA’s figures, Pleasant Hill 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, Pleasant Hill gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #79 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 54 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 Pleasant Hill 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 Pleasant Hill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pleasant Hill, and Pleasant Hill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 9%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #79 of 247 in Missouri; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pleasant Hill’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, Pleasant Hill has less expected damage per building than 68% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Pleasant Hill: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pleasant Hill flood? Sometimes: 54 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pleasant Hill, from FEMA’s records: 14.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Pleasant Hill 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pleasant Hill
Disasters that paid out in Pleasant Hill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Pleasant Hill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$18K to the City of Pleasant Hill for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$12K to the City of Pleasant Hill for repairs
- 2002Severe Winter Ice Storm$65K to the City of Pleasant Hill for repairs
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 Pleasant Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pleasant Hill archive →Get ready for what Pleasant Hill 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 Pleasant Hill
Is Pleasant Hill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pleasant Hill has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #79 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pleasant Hill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 54 claims in Pleasant Hill since 1982, $353K in all, or 14.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Pleasant Hill 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 Pleasant Hill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pleasant Hill’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 Pleasant Hill?
By FEMA money that reached Pleasant Hill, Severe Winter Ice Storm (2002): $65K to the City of Pleasant Hill for repairs.
Is Pleasant Hill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Pleasant Hill’s rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pleasant Hill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pleasant Hill’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.