Enter any address in Crawford County, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Crawford County. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 30 flash flood events and 8 flood events. Recent examples include a flash flood event on April 29, 2021, where heavy rainfall caused flooding, and a flood event on May 1, 2017, which resulted in historic flooding along river tributaries after more than nine inches of rain fell in some areas.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced a significant number of claims, with an average payout of $25,139 for water depths averaging 12.9 feet. Notably, properties in Zone X, which includes areas of moderate flood hazard, have seen fewer claims but with a substantially higher average payout of $104,777 for an average water depth of 14.9 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) determination, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Crawford County, Missouri has recorded 38 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 30 flash floods and 8 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1976–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Nov 3, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 29, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds And Flooding | Flood | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Dec 23, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 15, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 8, 2009 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Jan 26, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Nov 5, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 30, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 5, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 5, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 28, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 28, 2015 | 500.00K (1 deaths) |
Flood — Nov 5, 2024
Overnight on Sunday, November 3rd, a shield of rain and thunderstorms moved into the bi-state area. By Monday morning, persistent rainfall resulted in fatal flash flooding in southeast Missouri, with one fatality occurring in Iron County. Later on Monday evening, a QLCS produced two EF-0 tornadoes in east-central Missouri and shifted the axis of heaviest rain to the north. Due to the shift nort...
Flash Flood — Apr 29, 2021
Southerly flow as well as intermittent showers and a few thunderstorms raised the dew point into the mid 60s to around 70 across the area. Also, forecast soundings showed a very moist and deep warm layer up to around 12,000 feet. This combined with strong 850mb moisture convergence across southern Missouri and Illinois and precipitable water values in the 99th plus percentile, set the region ...
Flash Flood — Jul 3, 2020
A detached lobe of vorticity drifted slowly south/southwestward across the region. Weak forcing associated with it combined with ample low-level moisture allowed showers and storms to develop. Some of the storms produced heavy rain and flash flooding.
Flood — Apr 30, 2017
A strong spring storm system brought multiple rounds of thunderstorms and heavy rain to the southeast half of Missouri during the weekend of April 29th-30th. Rainfall totals surpassed nine inches in some locations and this led to flash flooding and historic flooding along some of the tributaries of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Areas along the Meramec River were especially hard hit as n...
Flash Flood — Apr 29, 2017
A strong spring storm system brought multiple rounds of thunderstorms and heavy rain to the southeast half of Missouri during the weekend of April 29th-30th. Rainfall totals surpassed nine inches in some locations and this led to flash flooding and historic flooding along some of the tributaries of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Areas along the Meramec River were especially hard hit as n...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Crawford County, Missouri:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Crawford County, Missouri that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.