Natural hazards · Sikeston

Sikeston, MO natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Sikeston comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 57 claims here since 1978. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

How exposed is Sikeston?

87
Very high
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Sikeston to be higher than in 87% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes.

Earthquakes62%Tornadoes15%Inland flooding9%Everything else15%
By hazard

What Sikeston faces

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

Earthquakes

62% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

15% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Inland flooding

9% of expected damage
Well below average · higher than 22% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

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 Sikeston flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sikeston, from FEMA’s records.

57paid claims since 1978
$531Kpaid to owners
6homes flooded more than once
19782026

Biggest named events

  • Mid-spring storms: 11 claims, $178K
  • Central U.S. April Flooding: 4 claims, $35K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Sikeston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Scott County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

4storm safe rooms built
Disasters that hit Sikeston

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SikestonDeclared for Scott County only
2025

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

108 households applied for aid $821K aid approved $11K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
2024

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

776 households applied for aid $1.1M aid approved $835K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
2023

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$101K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
2015

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

2 households applied for aid
2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

307 households applied for aid $718K aid approved $7K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
2009

Severe Winter Storm

$2.5M to the City of Sikeston for repairs
2008

Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado

$114K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

53 households applied for aid $82K aid approved $123K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
2008

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

$104K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
2006

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

5 households applied for aid $2K aid approved
2002

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

$24K to the City of Sikeston for repairs
Scott County has had 25 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. Sikeston covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Sikeston’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Sikeston. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Sikeston total about $6.1M 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.

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