More hazard damage per building is expected in Terre du Lac than in 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Terre du Lac gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #170 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then earthquakes (10%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Terre du Lac 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
Strong wind
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 Terre du Lac’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Terre du Lac, and Terre du Lac’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 6%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C #170 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Terre du Lac’s residents live in 2 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, Terre du Lac has more expected damage per building than 69% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Terre du Lac: $690K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Terre du Lac flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Terre du Lac. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Terre du Lac isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Francois County.The storms Terre du Lac remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for St. Francois County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Terre du Lac itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
St. Francois County has had 17 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.
Get ready for what Terre du Lac 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Terre du Lac
Is Terre du Lac at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Terre du Lac has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #170 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Terre du Lac 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 St. Francois County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Terre du Lac?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Terre du Lac’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Terre du Lac at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Terre du Lac’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Terre du Lac.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Terre du Lac’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.