12 flood insurance claims·$198,881 paid·1 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 Monroe 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.
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates the flood risk profile in Monroe County, Missouri. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 26 flash flood events compared to 3 general flood events.
Heavy rainfall from slow-moving storm complexes frequently triggers these incidents. For example, a storm complex on August 2, 2016, produced up to 6 inches of rain with locally higher amounts, causing flash flooding over portions of the region. Earlier, on June 3, 2020, a cold front and outflow boundaries moved through the area, generating severe weather and flash flooding. Another event occurred on September 6, 2018, when a line of storms produced heavy rainfall and isolated flash flooding.
Homeowners, real estate agents, and journalists should pay the most attention to properties located within Zone A. Historical NFIP claims data for Monroe County shows 12 claims in Zone A, with an average payout of $19,888 and an average recorded water depth of 12 inches.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 12 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 2008, with 7 claims and $145,203 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.
18 federal disaster declarations since 1973, 1 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Apr 29, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | May 15, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Jun 12, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Jan 26, 2009 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Jun 1, 2008 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Dec 8, 2007 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
29 since 1996: 26 flash floods and 3 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 3, 2020 | — |
| Flash Flood | Sep 6, 2018 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 15, 2017 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2016 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 25, 2014 | — |
| Flash Flood | May 25, 2011 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2010 | — |
| Flash Flood | Oct 29, 2009 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jun 3, 2020. A combination of old outflow boundaries and a cold front moved through the region, triggering widespread showers and storms. Some of the storms became severe with damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding.
Flash Flood · Sep 6, 2018. A line of storms moved through the region. Some of the storms produced heavy rainfall and isolated flash flooding.
Flash Flood · Jun 15, 2017. Outflow boundary moved through region and was the trigger for multicell thunderstorm complex. There were numerous reports of damaging winds with these storms.
Flash Flood · Aug 2, 2016. A large storm complex moved slowly across Missouri during the early morning hour of August 2nd. Rainfall amounts up to 6 inches with locally higher amounts caused flash flooding over portions of north central and central Missouri.
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 Monroe 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.