Natural hazards · Bismarck

Bismarck, MO natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Bismarck comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Bismarck?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Bismarck to be higher than in 65% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and heat waves.

Inland flooding37%Heat waves17%Earthquakes16%Tornadoes13%Cold waves7%Strong wind6%Everything else5%

By hazard

What Bismarck faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

37% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Heat waves

17% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. places

Recorded about 11 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

16% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 30 years in the area

Cold waves

7% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 18% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Strong wind

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Bismarck flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Bismarck.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Bismarck isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: St. Francois County.

Disasters that hit Bismarck

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Bismarck itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Bismarck.

Brought FEMA money into BismarckDeclared for St. Francois County only

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2009

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

23 households applied for aid $41K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

4 households applied for aid $9K aid approved

2006

Severe Winter Storms

$18K to the City of Bismarck for repairs

2006

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

1 household applied for aid

St. Francois County has had 18 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Bismarck is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Bismarck’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Bismarck. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.

Bismarck, MO natural hazards

How exposed is Bismarck?

What Bismarck faces

Inland flooding

Heat waves

Earthquakes

Tornadoes

Cold waves

Strong wind

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Bismarck flood?

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Storms and Flooding

Severe Winter Storms

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

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