Enter any address in Lewis County, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Lewis County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 27 flash flood events and 17 flood events, resulting in two reported fatalities. Recent examples include flash flooding on August 26, 2023, caused by storms dropping up to six inches of rain, and on October 2, 2019, when isolated storms produced up to three inches of rain leading to similar conditions.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $33,378 and an average water depth of 17.7 feet. While Zone X_SHADED and Zone X have seen fewer claims, they still represent a risk, with average payouts of $9,341 and $15,595 respectively, and average water depths of 0.6 feet and 3.9 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X_SHADED and Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
2 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lewis County, Missouri has recorded 44 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 27 flash floods and 17 river or area floods. The county has received 26 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 (1965–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 29, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Dec 22, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 15, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 9, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 29, 2013 |
| Flooding | Flood | Jun 1, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 26, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 2, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 25, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2015 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 10, 2014 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 26, 2023
A line of storms moved across portions of Lewis County, dropping up to 6 inches of rain in a short amount of time causing flash flooding.
Flash Flood — May 29, 2019
Storms developed along an old outflow boundary. Several of the storms produced severe weather including large hail and flash flooding.
Flash Flood — May 26, 2019
Storms developed along an old outflow boundary across portions of northeast Missouri and west central Illinois. There were numerous reports of damaging winds and several reports of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Oct 2, 2019
Isolated storms moved through portions of northeast Missouri dumping up to three inches of rain in Lewis County which caused flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jun 26, 2015
A frontal boundary was slowly sinking south across forecast area. Several rounds of storms developed and moved east along the front dumping up to 8 inches of rain in a 24 hour period from 7 am June 25th to 7 am June 26th. This caused considerable flash flooding, especially in Lincoln County Missouri and Calhoun County Illinois. There were also numerous reports of damaging winds and large hail.
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 Lewis 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 Lewis 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.