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St. James, Missouri 3-14-2014Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in St. James · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, St. James faces less hazard damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. James gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #2 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then earthquakes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1997.

River and rain flooding 65%Earthquakes 14%Ice storms 10%

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

less than 82%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#2 of 247 in Missouri
Hazard risk
A−#2 of 247
in Missouri · lower than 82% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
65% of expected building damage
Flood claims
1
paid since 1997 · $655
Disasters paid out here
6
of 21 declared for Phelps County
By hazard

What St. James 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

65%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

14%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts

Ice storms

10%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

5%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Winter storms top 2% Hail Strong wind Wildfire Lightning Hurricanes Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 20% of St. James’ expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind St. James’ grade

River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. James, and St. James’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 10%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.

Where St. James sits
St. James
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #2 of 247 in Missouri; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).

St. James’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding65%Earthquakes14%Ice storms10%Everything else11%

The typical Missouri town has higher expected damage than 59% of U.S. towns; within the state, St. James has less expected damage per building than 100% of Missouri towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across St. James: $683K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. St. James covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does St. James flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1997

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. James, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1997: 1 claim1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims1997
19972026
1
paid claims since 1997
$655
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$655
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

St. James isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Phelps County.
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to St. James

Disasters that paid out in St. James itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of St. James), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires9 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  2. 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  3. 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  4. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
  5. 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$80K to the City of St. James for repairs
  6. 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding9 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in St. JamesPhelps County only

Phelps County has had 21 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of St. James after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the St. James archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what St. James faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Ice storms
  • Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
  • Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
  • Keep sand or salt by the door.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Tornado warnings
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in St. James

Is St. James at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. James has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #2 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and earthquakes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does St. James flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in St. James since 1997, $655 in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Is St. James 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 Phelps County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in St. James?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for St. James’ 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. James?

By FEMA money that reached St. James, Severe Winter Storms and Flooding (2007): $80K to the City of St. James for repairs.

Is St. James at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and St. James’ rate for it is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. James.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. James’ 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.