Photo: Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, NPS from St. Louis, MO, USA · CC BY 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in St. Louis than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Louis gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #217 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then earthquakes (24%). Flood insurance has paid 494 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 St. Louis’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What St. Louis 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 St. Louis’ grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in St. Louis, and St. Louis’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 24% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #217 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
St. Louis’ residents live in 104 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. Louis has more expected damage per building than 88% of Missouri towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, St. Louis has higher expected damage per building than 78% (#314 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $359M, is the 17th largest of those 400.
Does St. Louis flood? Yes: 494 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in St. Louis, from FEMA’s records: 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding176 claims · $4.0M
- Hurricane Ike19 claims · $334K
St. Louis isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: the county.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to St. Louis
Disasters that paid out in St. Louis itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of St. Louis), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding15,296 households applied for aid$56.4M aid approved$24.1M to the City of St. Louis for repairs
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires703 households applied for aid$742K aid approved
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding18,017 households applied for aid$35.2M aid approved$1.8M to the City of St. Louis for repairs21 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$946K to the City of St. Louis for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding163 households applied for aid$177K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding600 households applied for aid$752K aid approved$419K to the City of St. Louis for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
Show all 14
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1,057 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado1,912 households applied for aid$3.5M aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding166 households applied for aid$120K aid approved
- 2007Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$38K to the City of St. Louis for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$562K to the City of St. Louis for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$5.3M to the City of St. Louis for repairs
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$1.2M to the City of St. Louis for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding101 households applied for aid$162K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
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. Louis after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the St. Louis archive →St. Louis and its neighbors
St. Louis is 8th of the 10 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Riverview | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Glasgow Village | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Richmond Heights | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Chouteau Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Lemay | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 135 |
| Venice Township | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| St. Louis | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 494 |
| Centreville Township | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 113 |
| East St. Louis | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 388 |
| East St. Louis Township | — | not graded yet | |
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. Louis 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 St. Louis
Is St. Louis at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, St. Louis has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #217 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and earthquakes (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does St. Louis flood?
Flood insurance has paid 494 claims in St. Louis since 1978, $10.5M in all, or 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 23 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (176).
Is St. Louis 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 the county, 0.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in St. Louis?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for St. Louis’ 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. Louis?
By FEMA money that reached St. Louis, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2025): 15,296 households applied for aid, $56.4M approved, and $24.1M to the City of St. Louis for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 176 paid, $4.0M.
Is St. Louis at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and St. Louis’ rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. Louis.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. Louis’ 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.