Cape Girardeau, MO natural hazards
Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Cape Girardeau comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 737 claims here since 1978. 14 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarationsHow exposed is Cape Girardeau?
FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Cape Girardeau to be higher than in 82% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and inland flooding.
What Cape Girardeau faces
Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
Inland flooding
Heat waves
Tornadoes
Lower here
Not a risk here
Does Cape Girardeau flood?
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cape Girardeau, from FEMA’s records.
Biggest named events
- Not a named storm: 79 claims, $436K
- Midwest Flooding: 72 claims, $1.2M
- Early winter storms: 9 claims, $881K
Homes that flooded again and again
■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (17) ■ flooded 2+ times
are insured
are insured
What’s been done with FEMA grants
14 federal disasters brought FEMA money here
Disasters the President declared that paid out in Cape Girardeau itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Cape Girardeau.
Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
Severe Winter Storm
Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado
Severe Storms and Flooding
Severe Winter Storms and Flooding
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding
How to read this page
FEMA’s expected losses across Cape Girardeau total about $35.3M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.
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.