Storms, floods and disasters in Rockaway Beach
Rockaway Beach isn’t graded for hazard risk: Rockaway Beach has 760 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 23 claims here since 2008.
What Rockaway Beach 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
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.
Does Rockaway Beach flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rockaway Beach, from FEMA’s records.
- The Mid-spring storms4 claims · $37K
- The Early winter storms4 claims · $103K
- The March storm3 claims · $24K
Rockaway Beach isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Taney County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rockaway Beach
Disasters that paid out in Rockaway Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rockaway Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding9 households applied for aid$251 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding21 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$91K to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds and Flooding$9K to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding18 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$32K to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$939 to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado7 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$1K to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$881 to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$27K to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding37 households applied for aid$19K aid approved
Taney County has had 18 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 Rockaway Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rockaway Beach archive →Rockaway Beach and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merriam Woods | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Rockaway Beach 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.
- 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 Rockaway Beach
Does Rockaway Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Rockaway Beach since 2008, $197K in all. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (4).
Is Rockaway Beach 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 Taney County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rockaway Beach?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rockaway Beach’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 Rockaway Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Rockaway Beach, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2015): 21 households applied for aid, $16K approved, and $91K to the City of Rockaway Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 4 paid, $37K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rockaway Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rockaway Beach’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.