William Henry and Lilla Luce Harrison House · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA puts Scott City’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 87% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Scott City gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #226 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (43%), then earthquakes (36%). Flood insurance has paid 42 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 stands out about Scott City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Scott City 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 Scott City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 43% of the building damage FEMA expects in Scott City, and Scott City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 10%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #226 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Scott City’s residents live in 2 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, Scott City has more expected damage per building than 91% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.6M a year in losses across Scott City: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Scott City flood? Sometimes: 42 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Scott City, from FEMA’s records: 23.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March storm5 claims · $69K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding2 claims · $113K
- The Late spring severe storms1 claim · $6K
Scott City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Scott County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Scott City
Disasters that paid out in Scott City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Scott City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$36K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$38K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding7 households applied for aid$33K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding20 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$42K to the City of Scott City for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$57K to the City of Scott City for repairs
Show all 10
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado$23K to the City of Scott City for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding80 households applied for aid$132K aid approved$26K to the City of Scott City for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding24 households applied for aid$51K aid approved$46K to the City of Scott City for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$4K to the City of Scott City for repairs
Scott County has had 25 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 Scott City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Scott City archive →Scott City and its neighbors
Scott City has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott City | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Cape Girardeau | Dmore damage than 88% | earthquakes | 737 |
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 Scott City 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 Scott City
Is Scott City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Scott City has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #226 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (43%) and earthquakes (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Scott City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 42 claims in Scott City since 1982, $445K in all, or 23.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March storm (5).
Is Scott City 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 Scott County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Scott City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Scott City’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 Scott City?
By FEMA money that reached Scott City, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 80 households applied for aid, $132K approved, and $26K to the City of Scott City for repairs. By flood claims, March storm: 5 paid, $69K.
Is Scott City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (43%), and Scott City’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Scott City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Scott City’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.