Photo: James Hayes from USA · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, St. Clair faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Clair gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #67 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then earthquakes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1979.
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 St. Clair’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What St. Clair 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
Hail
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 St. Clair’s grade
River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. Clair, and St. Clair’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 18% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
B #67 of 247 in Missouri; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
St. Clair’s residents live in 3 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, St. Clair has less expected damage per building than 73% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across St. Clair: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does St. Clair flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. Clair, from FEMA’s records: 9.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
St. Clair isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to St. Clair
Disasters that paid out in St. Clair itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of St. Clair), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires6 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$21K to the City of St. Clair for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding27 households applied for aid$225K aid approved
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding18 households applied for aid$55K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding19 households applied for aid$84K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding33 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$35K to the City of St. Clair for repairs
Franklin 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 St. Clair after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the St. Clair archive →St. Clair and its neighbors
St. Clair 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Clair | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Parkway | — | 624 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 St. Clair 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 St. Clair
Is St. Clair at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Clair has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #67 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and earthquakes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does St. Clair flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in St. Clair since 1979, $157K in all, or 9.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is St. Clair 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 Franklin County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in St. Clair?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for St. Clair’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 St. Clair?
By FEMA money that reached St. Clair, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding (2017): 27 households applied for aid, $225K approved.
Is St. Clair at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and St. Clair’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. Clair.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. Clair’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.