Natural hazards · Washington

Washington, MO natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Washington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1982. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Washington?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Washington to be higher than in 77% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding58%Earthquakes13%Tornadoes9%Heat waves8%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Washington faces

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

Inland flooding

58% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

13% of expected damage

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

Tornadoes

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places

Heat waves

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 60% of U.S. places

Recorded about 12 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold 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 Washington flood?

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

25paid claims since 1982

$2.4Mpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19822026

Biggest named events

Midwest Flooding: 5 claims, $55K
Early winter storms: 1 claim, $903

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Franklin County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

45flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Washington

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WashingtonDeclared for Franklin County only

2025

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

5 households applied for aid $300 aid approved $6K to the City of Washington for repairs

2017

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $14K to the City of Washington for repairs

2015

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

7 households applied for aid $9K aid approved $35K to the City of Washington for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $136 aid approved

2007

Severe Winter Storms and Flooding

$29K to the City of Washington for repairs

2005

Hurricane Katrina Evacuation

$20K to the City of Washington for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

1 household applied for aid

2000

Severe Thunderstorms and Flash Flooding

$225K to the City of Washington for repairs

Franklin County has had 21 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. Washington covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Washington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Washington. 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 Washington total about $6.9M 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.