24 flood insurance claims·$316,861 paid·2 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Livingston County, Missouri. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
River flooding from persistent heavy rainfall systems dominates the historical record in Livingston County, Missouri, accounting for 65 recorded flood events compared to 11 flash flood events over the last 30 years. Torrential rains from organized storm complexes frequently produce standing water and road closures across the region. For example, a line of thunderstorms dropped torrential rains that caused areas of flooding on May 21, 2019. Similarly, widespread moderate to heavy rainfall resulted in numerous flooded roads across northern Missouri on April 5, 2017, though impacts remained relatively low and resolved quickly as water receded.
National Flood Insurance Program records indicate that claims are distributed across multiple zones, with the highest claim volume concentrated in Zone A at 14 claims with an average payout of $7,889 and an average recorded water depth of 2 inches. Properties located in unshaded Zone X experienced 6 claims with a higher average payout of $24,409 and an average recorded water depth of 3 inches, while Zone X and unknown zones recorded fewer claims with lower average payouts and an average water depth of 1 inch. Homeowners, real estate agents, and journalists should pay the closest attention to properties situated within designated Special Flood Hazard Areas like Zone A, as well as properties in unshaded Zone X where lower-frequency events have resulted in higher average claim payouts.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
30% of Livingston County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
20 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 2 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2007, with 6 claims and $131,682 paid, the year of Severe Storms and Flooding.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
4 NOAA storm reports from Livingston County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Missouri flood stories →
23 federal disaster declarations since 1973, 2 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Jun 24, 2021 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Apr 29, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | May 15, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Sep 9, 2014 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Jun 12, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | May 8, 2009 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
76 since 1996: 11 flash floods and 65 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 21, 2019 | — |
| Flash Flood | Oct 8, 2018 | — |
| Flood | Jul 13, 2017 | — |
| Flood | Apr 5, 2017 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 26, 2016 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2016 | — |
| Flood | Jun 15, 2015 | — |
| Flood | Aug 1, 2015 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flood · May 21, 2019. A line of generally sub-severe thunderstorms moved through the region during the early morning hours on May 21. These storms didn't produce any severe winds or hail, but as they moved east wake low winds produced damage consisting of several tree limbs down as well as power lines and power poles. The storms then went on to produce torrential rains which caused areas of flooding.
Flash Flood · Oct 8, 2018. Starting on October 6th, the atmosphere set itself up in a pattern conducive to bring a prolonged period of heavy rain to portions of northeastern Kansas and northwestern Missouri. The heaviest rain occurred Saturday and Sunday (Oct 6-7). By Tuesday night (October 9th) more than 11 inches of rain fell in and around the Kansas City Metro. Local drought conditions were still in the Extreme to Exceptional category go…
Flood · Jul 13, 2017. On the evening of July 13, several thunderstorms formed in northern Missouri, producing some minor wind damage. These storms eventually congealed into a larger complex and caused some flooding across portions of northern Missouri.
Flood · Apr 5, 2017. Widespread moderate to heavy rain resulted in numerous roads across northern Missouri to be flooded. Impacts were rather low, as most of these closures were soon resolved once the water receded.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Livingston County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.