St. Francois County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
St. Francois County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 78% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $36 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $538 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (51 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.8 million on 94 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in St. Francois County
- 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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 70.4 | $12M | ||
| Heat wave | 95.7 | $6M | ||
| Earthquake | 91.5 | $6M | ||
| Tornado | 85.1 | $5M | ||
| Cold wave | 75.3 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 93.9 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 78.4 | $736K | ||
| Lightning | 70.5 | $463K | ||
| Winter weather | 85.1 | $255K | ||
| Ice storm | 57.4 | $109K | ||
| Wildfire | 57.3 | $66K | ||
| Hurricane | 36.0 | $21K | ||
| Drought | 25.0 | $11K | ||
| Landslide | 67.8 | $4K |
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 relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included St. Francois County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 19
Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1952
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 383 storm reports in St. Francois County since 1952, with 15 deaths and 71 injuries and about $59.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on June 22, 1969.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 1969 | F4 | – | 14 / 4 |
| Jun 22, 1969 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 22, 1969 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 21, 1957 | F3 | – | 49 / 8 |
| May 21, 1957 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 1957 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| May 21, 1957 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 22, 1969 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 22, 1969 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 22, 1969 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 11, 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Farmington | $300K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1941, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of St. Francois County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1941, with top winds near 40 mph about 61 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 1941 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 61 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 1941 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 61 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in St. Francois County
Check your address flood zone ›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. Francois County
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; 28,945 housing units.
Compare in Missouri
All 115 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | Heat wave | |
| Jackson County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Charles County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Louis City | Heat wave | |
| Greene County | Inland flooding | |
| Clay County | Inland flooding | |
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Boone County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 28 | |
| Washington County | 26 | |
| Perry County | 27 | |
| Ste. Genevieve County | 29 | |
| Madison County | 24 | |
| Iron County | 25 |
Common questions about St. Francois County
What is the biggest natural hazard in St. Francois County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in St. Francois County, about $12.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $6.3 million.
How many federal disasters has St. Francois County had?
St. Francois County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.
Is St. Francois County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 17th 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. Francois County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in St. Francois 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. Francois County had?
NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in St. Francois County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on June 22, 1969. The weather service has also logged 135 hail reports and 32 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit St. Francois County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of St. Francois County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1941, with winds near 40 mph.
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.