Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Sikeston faces more hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sikeston gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #240 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (64%), then river and rain flooding (18%). Flood insurance has paid 57 claims here since 1978.
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 Sikeston’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Sikeston 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 Sikeston’s grade
Earthquakes are 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sikeston, and Sikeston’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 9%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #240 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sikeston’s residents live in 7 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, Sikeston has more expected damage per building than 97% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $20.0M a year in losses across Sikeston: $10.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sikeston flood? Sometimes: 57 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sikeston, from FEMA’s records: 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms11 claims · $178K
- The Central U.S. April Flooding4 claims · $35K
Sikeston 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sikeston
Disasters that paid out in Sikeston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Sikeston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding99 households applied for aid$780K aid approved
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding9 households applied for aid$41K aid approved$11K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding776 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$835K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$101K to the City of Sikeston for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding307 households applied for aid$718K aid approved$7K to the City of Sikeston for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$2.5M to the City of Sikeston for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 11
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado$114K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding53 households applied for aid$82K aid approved$123K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$104K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding5 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$24K to the City of Sikeston for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
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 Sikeston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sikeston archive →Sikeston and its neighbors
Sikeston has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sikeston | Dmore damage than 91% | earthquakes | 57 |
| Miner | — | 950 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Sikeston 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 Sikeston
Is Sikeston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sikeston has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #240 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (64%) and river and rain flooding (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sikeston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 57 claims in Sikeston since 1978, $531K in all, or 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (11).
Is Sikeston 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 Sikeston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sikeston’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 Sikeston?
By FEMA money that reached Sikeston, Severe Winter Storm (2009): $2.5M to the City of Sikeston for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 11 paid, $178K.
Is Sikeston at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Sikeston’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sikeston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sikeston’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.