Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 3.0Storms, floods and disasters in Southwest City
Southwest City isn’t graded for hazard risk: Southwest City has 992 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2008.
What Southwest 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
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.
Does Southwest City flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Southwest City, from FEMA’s records.
- The Late spring severe storms1 claim · $166K
Southwest 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: McDonald County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Southwest City
Disasters that paid out in Southwest City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Southwest City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding$57K to the Town of Southwest City for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the Town of Southwest City for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$55K to the Town of Southwest City for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$18K to the Town of Southwest City for repairs
- 2007Severe Winter Storms$985 to the Town of Southwest City for repairs
- 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$56K to the Town of Southwest City for repairs
McDonald County has had 20 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 Southwest City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Southwest City archive →Get ready for what Southwest 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.
- 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 Southwest City
Does Southwest City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Southwest City since 2008, $373K in all. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late spring severe storms (1).
Is Southwest 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 McDonald County, 6% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Southwest City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Southwest 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 Southwest City?
By FEMA money that reached Southwest City, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding (2017): $57K to the Town of Southwest City for repairs. By flood claims, Late spring severe storms: 1 paid, $166K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Southwest City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Southwest 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.