Given Owens House · Photo: Colinhester · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Union Township faces more hazard damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, led by earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union Township gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #224 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (50%), then river and rain flooding (32%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1998.
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 Union Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Ice storms
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 Union Township’s grade
Earthquakes are 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Union Township, and Union Township’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 10%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #224 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Union Township’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, Union Township has more expected damage per building than 91% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Union Township: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Union Township flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Union Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms3 claims · $19K
- The Late spring severe storms1 claim · $8K
Union Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dunklin County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Union Township
Disasters that paid out in Union Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Union Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$391K to Union Township for repairs
- 2020Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$53K to Union Township for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$473K to Union Township for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding$37K to Union Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$24K to Union Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$27K to Union Township for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$16K to Union Township for repairs
Dunklin County has had 16 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 Union Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Union Township archive →Union Township and its neighbors
Union Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Township | Dmore damage than 87% | earthquakes | 7 |
| Holcomb Township | Dmore damage than 88% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Freeborn Township | Dmore damage than 88% | earthquakes | — |
| Liberty Township | Dmore damage than 89% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Cotton Hill Township | Dmore damage than 91% | earthquakes | 2 |
| St. Francis | — | 177 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 Union Township faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Union Township
Is Union Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union Township has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #224 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (50%) and river and rain flooding (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Union Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Union Township since 1998, $52K in all, or 4.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (3).
Is Union Township 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 Dunklin County, 1.9% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Union Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Union Township’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 Union Township?
By FEMA money that reached Union Township, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2019): $473K to Union Township for repairs. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 3 paid, $19K.
Is Union Township at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Union Township’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Union Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Union Township’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.