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St. Charles County, Missouri

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
4th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$215Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: Matt-Zimmerman, CC BY 2.0

St. Charles County, Missouri has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 93% of US counties. It ranks 4th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $215 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $531 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2022 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,076 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $156 million on 9,999 claims here, including $60 million for floods in 1993.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in St. Charles County

$116 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$27.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.

Earthquake

Moderate
$22.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 210 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh94.2
$116M
TornadoHigh96.4
$28M
EarthquakeModerate94.6
$22M
Cold waveHigh92.7
$15M
Heat waveModerate95.6
$12M
Strong windVery High98.1
$10M
HailHigh97.6
$9M
LightningHigh89.7
$2M
Winter weatherHigh89.0
$658K
Ice stormModerate71.6
$416K
LandslideModerate92.8
$144K
WildfireVery Low58.8
$135K
DroughtLow32.3
$56K
HurricaneVery Low22.8
$13K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included St. Charles County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood9
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 8, 2022Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
Jul 18, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2011FloodingEmergency
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 26
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 15, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2006Severe StormsEmergency
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 12, 2000Severe Thunderstorms and Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1994Severe Storms, Tornadoes, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1982Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1979Tornadoes, Torrential Rain & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 14, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 821 storm reports in St. Charles County since 1954, with 4 deaths and 111 injuries and about $348 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on December 10, 2021 near Femme Osage.

43tornadoes
345hail reports, largest 4 inches
370damaging thunderstorm winds
52floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 10, 2021EF3Femme Osage2 / 1
May 31, 2013EF3Defiance8 / 0
Oct 14, 1966F3–26 / 0
Apr 7, 1980F3–0 / 0
Nov 15, 1988F3–10 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 10, 2001HailSt Charles$100M
Apr 10, 2001HailSt Peters$50M
Apr 10, 2001HailCottleville$50M
May 31, 2013TornadoDefiance$50M
Nov 27, 1990Tornado–$25M
Mar 14, 2024HailForistell$20M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in St. Charles County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,076 policies)
34.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$156 millionpaid on 9,999 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $60.4 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in St. Charles County

$320,800median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1994median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
25%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.5%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 167,163 housing units.

Compare in Missouri

All 115 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
St. Louis CountyHighHeat wave
Jackson CountyHighInland flooding
St. Charles CountyModerateInland flooding
St. Louis CityHighHeat wave
Greene CountyModerateInland flooding
Clay CountyModerateInland flooding
Jefferson CountyModerateInland flooding
Boone CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
St. Louis CountyHigh32
Madison County, ILModerate14
Franklin CountyModerate22
Lincoln CountyLow27
Warren CountyLow15
Jersey County, ILVery Low18
Calhoun County, ILVery Low23

Common questions about St. Charles County

What is the biggest natural hazard in St. Charles County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in St. Charles County, about $116 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $27.6 million.

How many federal disasters has St. Charles County had?

St. Charles County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in August 2022.

Is St. Charles County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 4th highest of 115 in Missouri. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in St. Charles County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in St. Charles County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has St. Charles County had?

NOAA records list 43 tornadoes in St. Charles County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on December 10, 2021 near Femme Osage. The weather service has also logged 345 hail reports and 52 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.