Flooding and Water Damage Statistics in Missouri

The deadliest and most damaging severe weather event in the state of Missouri is flooding.  Between 2015 and 2019, there were 50 deaths in Missouri caused by flooding, 40 of which were people who were stuck in their vehicles during the flood.  Flash flooding is a common problem when flooding occurs in Missouri as it can bring 10-15-foot-high water walls.  The majority of flooding fatalities that occur in Missouri are due to flash floods.

The most common causes of flooding in Missouri include heavy rain or snowmelt causing rivers and streams to rise as well as dam and flood-levee failures that can result in sudden severe flooding.  There are many rivers throughout the state of Missouri, including major rivers such as the Missouri River the runs through the middle of the state and the Mississippi River that forms its entire eastern border.  Flooding from either of these major rivers can have devastating results.

While flooding can form over a period of days, weeks, or months, flash flooding can happen even faster.  Flash flooding occurs when there is a rapid rise of water that causes flooding in such a short period of time, that the public may not be warned until the flooding has already begun.  This type of flooding is dangerous as it can knock over humans, carry away vehicles, and cause major damage to buildings and infrastructure.  The majority of flood related deaths in Missouri are due to getting trapped in vehicles during a flash flood.

The following are recent flash flooding events that occurred in Missouri:

• July 26, 2022: The mayor of St. Louis declared a state of emergency when record rainfall caused flash floods in parts of Missouri.
• June 25-27, 2021: Flash flooding throughout Missouri caused by excessive rainfall swamped roads and stranded vehicles.

Missouri Flooding in 2019

In mid-2019, Missouri experienced significant flooding throughout the state that lasted for 279 days.  The flooding had wide-reaching effects as it caused millions of dollars in property damage, damaged levees that resulted in additional flooding from rivers, inundated over 1 million acres of farmland, and left homes underwater for months.

The flooding was caused by a late winter storm in March of 2019 after a winter of heavy snowfall and cold temperatures.  The storm on top of the remaining snow caused heavy flooding along the Missouri River and its tributaries that led to widespread damage.  More than $93 million in federal aid was given to the residents of Missouri to address the damage from the flooding, most of which came from FEMA, and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) paid out $68.7 million to policyholders in Missouri.  The U.S. Small Business Administration also approved $15.2 million in disaster relief loans for homes and businesses.

• The Missouri River reached historic water levels in 2019.
• The flooding was the longest lasting flood since the Great Flood of 1927 at 279 days.
• The flooding damaged 1000 miles of levees, overtopped 66 levee systems, and breached 45 different levee systems.

No matter the source, flooding can cause considerable damage to your home or business in Missouri.  Residents are urged to protect their property with flood insurance as the entire state is at risk of severe flooding.  If your home or business is affected by flooding, it is very important to reach out to water damage restoration experts that can help clean up flooded properties.  These technicians use advanced equipment to remove flood water and they can dry, clean, and restore the resulting damage.

Missouri Fire Damage Statistics

Missouri experiences its share of residential and structural fires that result in fatalities, injuries, and significant property damage.  While uncommon compared to other states, Missouri has experienced wildfires mainly caused by human error such as improper burning of brush piles, trash, and other debris.  Fortunately, wildfires that occur in Missouri are usually contained and do not turn into large, widespread fires.

The death rate for all fires in Missouri is slightly less than the national average with an injury rate that matches the national average, but the death and injury rates for residential fires specifically are a little higher than the national average.   According to 2022 data from NFIRS, there was a rate of 1.9 deaths and 6.3 injuries per 1000 fires compared to national averages of 2.1 deaths and 6.4 injuries, and rates of 7.7 deaths and 22.9 injuries per 1000 residential fires compared to national averages of 6.1 deaths and 19.8 injuries.

The following are the death percentages for fire incidents in Missouri in 2022:

• Structure fires: 83.3% (national average: 74%)
• Residential structure fires: 83.3% (national average: 70%)
• Vehicles: 16.7% (national average: 21.6%)
• Outside: 0% (national average: 3.1%)

The following is the injury percentage for fire incidents in 2022:

• Structure fires: 84% (national average: 83.1%)
• Residential structure fires: 74% (national average: 74.6%)
• Vehicles: 11% (national average: 8.3%)
• Outside: 4% (national average: 5.7%)

The following is the injury percentage for firefighters for fire incidents in 2022:

• Structure fires: 83.2% (national average: 79.2%)
• Residential structure fires: 64.8% (national average: 58.8%)
• Vehicles: 6.4% (national average: 7%)
• Outside: 9.6% (national average: 12.5%)

There were 44 home fire fatalities reported in Missouri in 2023 and as of April 2024, there have already been 39 reported home fire fatalities.  So far, there have been no fatalities of on-duty firefighters reported.  Any type of fire that occurs in your home or building is an emergency that should be put out as quickly as possible.  After the fire on your property is put out, the damage to your property can continue to get worse, especially as smoke and soot continue to spread and settle.  Make sure you call a fire damage restoration professional right away to limit the damage and repair and restore your property.

Water and Fire Restoration Services and Leads | Missouri

Fire and water can cause extensive damage to properties, leading to significant losses for both residential and commercial buildings. In Missouri, disaster restoration professionals utilize cutting-edge techniques and modern equipment to completely repair and restore properties affected by fire and water damage. These specialists are available around the clock, prepared to respond to emergencies at any hour.

For a nearby disaster restoration expert in Missouri, contact (888) 915-7197.

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