Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Rock Hill’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rock Hill gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #181 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then earthquakes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 118 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 stands out about Rock Hill’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rock 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
Earthquakes
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 Rock Hill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rock Hill, and Rock Hill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 8%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #181 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rock Hill’s residents live in 3 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, Rock Hill has more expected damage per building than 73% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.9M a year in losses across Rock Hill: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rock Hill flood? Yes: 118 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rock Hill, from FEMA’s records: 50.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike19 claims · $2.9M
- The Midwest Flooding8 claims · $726K
- The Late July Flooding8 claims · $1.6M
Rock 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: St. Louis County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rock Hill
Disasters that paid out in Rock Hill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rock Hill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$4K aid approved17 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Winter Storms$8K to the City of Rock Hill for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$12K to the City of Rock Hill for repairs
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.
Old photos of Rock Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rock Hill archive →Rock Hill and its neighbors
Rock Hill is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glendale | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Webster Groves | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Rock Hill | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 118 |
| Ladue | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 217 |
| Brentwood | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 503 |
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 Rock 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Rock Hill
Is Rock Hill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rock Hill has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #181 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and earthquakes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rock Hill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 118 claims in Rock Hill since 1979, $12.7M in all, or 50.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (19).
Is Rock 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 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 Rock Hill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rock 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 Rock Hill?
By FEMA money that reached Rock Hill, Severe Storms (2006): $12K to the City of Rock Hill for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 19 paid, $2.9M.
Is Rock Hill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Rock Hill’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rock Hill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rock 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.