Compare Rates and Save on Home Insurance

widget-location-pin

How Much Is Flood Insurance in Missouri? Average Flood Insurance Cost and Coverage


Compare Rates and Save on Car Insurance

Enter Your Zip Code

widget-location-pin
Shield

Free. Simple. Secure.

Updated: Sep 19, 2023
Content was edited
Edited by

Flood insurance is usually not included in your homeowners or renters policy. The cost of flood insurance is influenced by your geographical location and individual property risks. These property risks include the number of stories in your house, ground elevation, proximity to bodies of water, etc.

Most counties in Missouri have experienced more than 50 floods since 1996. It’s best to purchase flood insurance to mitigate flood damage costs, especially if you live in a moderate- or high-risk flood zone. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), you could pay up to $25,000 for damages caused by an inch of flooding.


dollarBadge icon

The cost of flood insurance in Missouri is higher than the national average. Its more expensive rates could signify that there are many flood-prone areas in the state.

housePapers icon

Flood insurance rates depend on Risk Rating 2.0, which looks into the location of your home and other individual property risks.

flood icon

Living in moderate- to high-risk areas could mean having more expensive premiums. In Missouri, Cape Girardeau is the county with the highest number of flood events.

Average Cost of Flood Insurance in Missouri

In Missouri, the average cost of flood insurance is $1,261 per year. The state's flood-prone areas and individual property risks impact the average cost of flood insurance.

Your premium may vary depending on your state and county. Households near high- or moderate-risk flood zones tend to pay more for their flood insurance premiums.

Average Cost of Flood Insurance by County in Missouri

The average cost of flood insurance in Missouri is more expensive than the national average because of the high number of flood-prone areas in the state. Comparing the counties in Missouri, Harrison County has the cheapest average cost ($287 per year), while Polk County has the most expensive average cost ($3,358 per year). The list below shows the cost of flood insurance in every county in Missouri.

Missouri Flood Insurance Cost per County
County
Average Cost

ADAIR COUNTY

$841

ADAMS COUNTY

$404

ANDREW COUNTY

$1,011

ATCHISON COUNTY

$1,121

AUDRAIN COUNTY

$977

BARRY COUNTY

$2,725

BARTON COUNTY

$968

BATES COUNTY

$948

BENTON COUNTY

$1,635

BOLLINGER COUNTY

$2,821

BOONE COUNTY

$878

BUCHANAN COUNTY

$1,249

BUTLER COUNTY

$845

CALDWELL COUNTY

$445

CALLAWAY COUNTY

$1,514

CAMDEN COUNTY

$898

CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY

$1,370

CARROLL COUNTY

$2,136

CARTER COUNTY

$1,623

CASS COUNTY

$1,046

CEDAR COUNTY

$711

CHARITON COUNTY

$1,122

CHRISTIAN COUNTY

$958

CLARK COUNTY

$1,466

CLAY COUNTY

$1,306

CLINTON COUNTY

$1,045

COLE COUNTY

$1,375

COOPER COUNTY

$1,493

CRAWFORD COUNTY

$1,871

DADE COUNTY

$833

DALLAS COUNTY

$1,396

DEKALB COUNTY

$1,114

DENT COUNTY

$843

DOUGLAS COUNTY

$360

DUNKLIN COUNTY

$525

FRANKLIN COUNTY

$1,621

GASCONADE COUNTY

$1,603

GENTRY COUNTY

$975

GREENE COUNTY

$1,139

GRUNDY COUNTY

$1,385

HARRISON COUNTY

$287

HENRY COUNTY

$2,672

HOLT COUNTY

$766

HOWARD COUNTY

$741

HOWELL COUNTY

$2,418

IRON COUNTY

$1,218

JACKSON COUNTY

$1,527

JASPER COUNTY

$1,082

JEFFERSON COUNTY

$1,281

JOHNSON COUNTY

$930

KNOX COUNTY

$469

LACLEDE COUNTY

$991

LAFAYETTE COUNTY

$738

LAWRENCE COUNTY

$1,012

LEWIS COUNTY

$952

LINCOLN COUNTY

$1,017

LINN COUNTY

$960

LIVINGSTON COUNTY

$464

MACON COUNTY

$758

MADISON COUNTY

$1,238

MARIES COUNTY

$1,765

MARION COUNTY

$1,212

MCDONALD COUNTY

$1,740

MERCER COUNTY

$638

MILLER COUNTY

$1,125

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY

$664

MONITEAU COUNTY

$586

MONROE COUNTY

$2,516

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

$978

MORGAN COUNTY

$753

NEW LONDON COUNTY

$519

NEW MADRID COUNTY

$504

NEWTON COUNTY

$1,138

NODAWAY COUNTY

$481

OREGON COUNTY

$3,203

OSAGE COUNTY

$725

OZARK COUNTY

$1,144

PEMISCOT COUNTY

$437

PERRY COUNTY

$1,876

PETTIS COUNTY

$920

PHELPS COUNTY

$906

PIKE COUNTY

$1,061

PLATTE COUNTY

$1,071

POLK COUNTY

$3,358

PULASKI COUNTY

$1,204

RALLS COUNTY

$771

RANDOLPH COUNTY

$806

RAY COUNTY

$1,148

REYNOLDS COUNTY

$1,275

RIPLEY COUNTY

$963

SALINE COUNTY

$1,578

SCOTT COUNTY

$558

SHANNON COUNTY

$1,178

SHELBY COUNTY

$808

ST. CHARLES COUNTY

$1,142

STE. GENEVIEVE COUNTY

$865

ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY

$1,285

ST. LOUIS CITY

$2,082

ST. LOUIS COUNTY

$1,861

STODDARD COUNTY

$1,013

STONE COUNTY

$1,406

TANEY COUNTY

$1,302

TEXAS COUNTY

$1,895

VERNON COUNTY

$764

WARREN COUNTY

$1,937

WASHINGTON COUNTY

$1,111

WAYNE COUNTY

$1,135

WEBSTER COUNTY

$1,323

WRIGHT COUNTY

$684

Companies That Offer Flood Insurance in Missouri

Flood insurance is provided by the NFIP or private insurance companies. For households that are not in NFIP communities or think NFIP coverage is insufficient, private providers are a good option.

You can get a base policy or an excess policy from private insurers. A base policy is comparable to an NFIP policy. To supplement your base policy, you can obtain an excess policy, which includes more coverage.

Private Flood Insurance Providers in MO and Their Contact Numbers
Company
Contact

Neptune Flood

727-202-4815

Aon Private Flood

888-281-0684

Hiscox - FloodPlus

866-283-7545

FloodSimple Insurance Services

844-803-8788

Chubb

866-324-8222

Zurich Insurance Group

800-382-2150

Swiss Re

41 43 285 2121

Berkshire Hathaway

800-673-2465

Private Market Flood

877-356-6348

The NFIP is consistently working to make flood insurance more accessible to all households in the country. To make this possible, the NFIP has teamed up with several insurance companies that offer flood insurance policies. The table below includes a list of the NFIP’s partner insurance companies in Missouri.

NFIP-Participating Flood Insurance Providers in State and Their Contact Numbers
Company
Contact

Allstate Insurance Company

(800) 527-2634

American Family Mutual Ins. Co

(800) 692-6326

American Nat. Prop. & Casualty

(417) 887-4990

American Strategic Ins. Corp.

(866) 274-8765

Assurant

(800) 423-4403

Auto Owners Insurance Co.

Refer to the Agent locator

Everett Cash Mutual Ins. Co.

(800) 326-4968

Farm Family Casualty

(518) 431-5000

Farmers Insurance Group

(866) 865-2965

Hartford Fire Insurance Co.

(860) 547-7440

Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co.

(800) 296-7542

Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company

(800) 283-6033

National General Insurance Co

(800) 462-2123

NFIP Direct Servicing Agent

(800) 638-6620

NGM Insurance Company

(603) 352-4000

Occidental Fire & Casualty

(800) 780-8423

Pacific Specialty Insurance Company

(800)-303-5000

Philadelphia Indemnity Ins. Co

(877) 672-7945 ext. 8295

Privilege Underwriters

(888) 813-7873

QBE Insurance Corporation

(877) 372-3996

Selective Ins. Co. Of America

(877) 348-0552

USAA General Indemnity Company

(210) 531-USAA (8722)

Westfield Insurance Company

(800) 243-0210

Wright National Flood Ins. Co.

(866) 373-5663

How to Purchase Flood Insurance and Its Coverage Requirements

The process of buying flood insurance isn’t complicated, and there are no special requirements to purchase a policy. Simply give the NFIP hotline (877-336-2627) or your home insurance agent a call. You can also check other insurance companies.

Given that the NFIP has a 30-day waiting period, it is recommended to get your policy as soon as possible. In Missouri, private insurance providers may impose a 10-day waiting period, though you can contact your provider to verify.

What Does Flood Insurance Cover in Missouri?

Your building structure and personal belongings are covered by flood insurance. Having these covered is crucial because even just one inch of water can cost $25,000 in damages.

rain icon
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

In the context of flood insurance, a "flood" refers to water damage caused by the weather or a natural disaster. It does not include water damage caused by leaking pipes, appliances or other events that aren’t caused by nature.

Flood insurance does not cover swimming pools, decks, patios, landscaping, money, documents, items in the basement or vehicle flooding. To cover these damages, consider purchasing additional insurance coverage.

Flood Insurance Building Coverage

When your home suffers damage from one of the covered perils in your policy, building coverage can pay for its repair or replacement. You can be covered for up to $250,000 if you have a policy from the NFIP. The following are examples of structural elements that can be covered by your flood insurance:

  • Plumbing
  • Furnaces, central heating and air conditioning
  • Walls
  • Electrical lines
  • Built-in appliances
  • Permanent carpets
  • Built-in furniture

Flood Insurance Contents Coverage

Personal items that are damaged by a covered peril can be repaired or replaced with the help of contents coverage. An NFIP policy covers your personal belongings for up to $100,000. The following items can be covered by the contents coverage component of flood insurance:

  • Clothes
  • Furniture
  • Electronics
  • Washers and dryers
  • Art

Factors That Affect Flood Insurance Costs in Missouri

A home’s general location used to be the only factor that affected the cost of flood insurance, and it’s still the most important one.

According to FEMA, Caldwell County has the fewest flood events, and Cape Girardeau County has the most. Caldwell County, with 14 flood events since 1996, has an average flood insurance cost of $445 per year. Flood insurance in Cape Girardeau County, a county with 170 flood events, costs $1,370 per year on average.

Cape Girardeau County does not have the highest rates in the state. That distinction belongs to Polk County, with 119 flood events and an average rate of $3,358. This is likely due to the fact that Polk County includes portions of two large flood-prone lakes, Stockton Lake and Pomme de Terre Lake. To know the historical flood risk in your area, consult FEMA’s website.

Risk Rating 2.0

A scoring system called Risk Rating 2.0 was introduced by FEMA in October 2021. It provides more equitable flood insurance prices. It does not just rely on the flood map and instead factors in property risks, such as:

  • The type of your foundation
  • The structure of your dwelling
  • Elevation
  • Cost of repair and replacement

Your location will still significantly affect your premium. The elements listed below can influence the cost of flood insurance in Missouri.

  • building icon

    Flood Risk

    Risk Rating 2.0 turned flood risk into an individual factor. Neighbors have various risk levels for flooding, making their premiums differ. However, premiums are still more expensive in moderate- or high-risk flood zones.

  • insurance2 icon

    Coverage Type

    Your premium depends on the coverage amount you have. Having a higher coverage amount means paying more for your flood insurance policy.

  • wallet icon

    Deductible

    Deductibles can range from $1,000 to $10,000. Insurance with a higher deductible has more affordable premiums, but you'll pay more out of your pocket in the event of a claim.

  • garage icon

    Age of Structure

    Older buildings are more likely to sustain damage or be quickly destroyed in case of a flood. Because of this, they are more expensive to insure than newer buildings.

  • mortgage icon

    Structure Design

    The design and materials of your home matter under Risk Rating 2.0. Therefore, how you build your house influences the cost of your flood insurance in Missouri.

Do You Need Flood Insurance in Missouri?

Flood insurance protects your property from its potential vulnerability to flooding. It’s a wise investment that also provides peace of mind.

Government-backed mortgages and lenders require you to buy flood insurance if you reside in a high-risk flood zone. Additionally, FEMA advises households in low- or moderate-risk flood zones to acquire flood insurance as an extra measure of safety.

Flood insurance is not covered by homeowners or renters insurance. Federal help for disasters may be a grant or a loan of up to $5,000 per household, but flood insurance can cover more. It also covers claims even without a disaster designation from the president.

Frequently Asked Questions About Missouri Flood Insurance

You still might have doubts or questions about flood insurance. MoneyGeek answered these frequently asked questions about flood insurance in Missouri to guide you to finding the right policy for your needs.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark earned a master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


sources