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St. Francois County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
17th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$36Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$12.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$6.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Earthquake

Moderate
$6.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 170 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow70.4
$12M
Heat waveModerate95.7
$6M
EarthquakeModerate91.5
$6M
TornadoModerate85.1
$5M
Cold waveModerate75.3
$2M
Strong windHigh93.9
$2M
HailModerate78.4
$736K
LightningModerate70.5
$463K
Winter weatherModerate85.1
$255K
Ice stormLow57.4
$109K
WildfireVery Low57.3
$66K
HurricaneVery Low36.0
$21K
DroughtVery Low25.0
$11K
LandslideLow67.8
$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

Severe Storm11
Flood4
Severe Ice Storm2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe 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
May 9, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 19, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Dec 29, 2006Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Show all 19
Apr 5, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 2000Severe Thunderstorms and Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 1, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency

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.

28tornadoes
135hail reports, largest 3 inches
183damaging thunderstorm winds
32floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 22, 1969F4–14 / 4
Jun 22, 1969F4–0 / 0
Jun 22, 1969F4–0 / 0
May 21, 1957F3–49 / 8
May 21, 1957F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 21, 1957Tornado–$25M
May 21, 1957Tornado–$25M
Jun 22, 1969Tornado–$3M
Jun 22, 1969Tornado–$3M
Jun 22, 1969Tornado–$3M
May 11, 2004Thunderstorm WindFarmington$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1941most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 25, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 25, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph61 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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (51 policies)
11%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.8 millionpaid on 94 flood claims since 1978
1999costliest year, with $801,353 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. Francois County

$169,300median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
47%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.4%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; 28,945 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
Jefferson CountyModerate28
Washington CountyLow26
Perry CountyLow27
Ste. Genevieve CountyLow29
Madison CountyLow24
Iron CountyLow25

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.