Dent County Courthouse · Photo: Kbh3rd · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Salem faces more hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salem gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #140 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%), then earthquakes (28%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Salem 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
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 Salem’s grade
River and rain flooding is 49% of the building damage FEMA expects in Salem, and Salem’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 5%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #140 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Salem’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, Salem has more expected damage per building than 57% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.5M a year in losses across Salem: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Salem flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Salem. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Salem isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dent County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Salem
Disasters that paid out in Salem itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Salem), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$657K to the City of Salem for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding12 households applied for aid$44K aid approved
- 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding91 households applied for aid$73K aid approved$120K to the City of Salem for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$7K to the City of Salem for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$4K to the City of Salem for repairs
Dent County has had 15 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 Salem after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Salem archive →Get ready for what Salem 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.
- 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 Salem
Is Salem at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salem has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #140 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%) and earthquakes (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Salem 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 Dent County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Salem?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Salem’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 Salem?
By FEMA money that reached Salem, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2024): $657K to the City of Salem for repairs.
Is Salem at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (49%), and Salem’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Salem.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Salem’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.