Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Portageville’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Portageville gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (76%). Flood insurance has paid 6 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 Portageville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
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 Portageville’s grade
Earthquakes are 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Portageville, and Portageville’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 8%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #246 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Portageville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Missouri town has higher expected damage than 59% of U.S. towns; within the state, Portageville has more expected damage per building than 100% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.9M a year in losses across Portageville: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Portageville flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Portageville, from FEMA’s records: 4.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Early winter storms1 claim · $1K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $30K
Portageville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: New Madrid County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Portageville
Disasters that paid out in Portageville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Portageville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding7 households applied for aid$24K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding12 households applied for aid$32K aid approved
- 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$79K to the City of Portageville for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding19 households applied for aid$75K aid approved$33K to the City of Portageville for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$274K to the City of Portageville for repairs
Show all 8
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to the City of Portageville for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding9 households applied for aid$15K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
New Madrid County has had 22 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 Portageville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Portageville archive →Get ready for what Portageville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Portageville
Is Portageville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Portageville has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (76%) and river and rain flooding (10%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Portageville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Portageville since 1979, $93K in all, or 4.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Early winter storms (1).
Is Portageville 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 New Madrid County, 4.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Portageville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Portageville’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 Portageville?
By FEMA money that reached Portageville, Severe Winter Storm (2009): $274K to the City of Portageville for repairs. By flood claims, Early winter storms: 1 paid, $1K.
Is Portageville at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Portageville’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Portageville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Portageville’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.