Water Damage Restoration in St. Louis, MO
St. Louis by the numbers: 58 flood report days from 2016 to 2025, 79 freezing nights a year, 8 federal disaster declarations since 2016. Below: first steps, the records, Missouri insurance rules and costs.
Updated October 31, 2026
First Steps for Water in a Home in St. Louis
- Burst pipe: shut the main water valve, then open the lowest faucet to drain the lines (burst pipe steps).
- Stay clear of wet outlets and cords.
- Photograph the damage, then call your insurer.
St. Louis Flood Record
NOAA has 104 flood and flash flood reports for the 7 Missouri counties of the St. Louis metro area from 2016 to 2025, on 58 separate days; August had the most.
At the St. Louis Science Center gauge, May is the wettest month with 4.9 inches on average.
| Month | Flood report days | Normal precipitation (in) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2 | 2.7 |
| February | 0 | 2.3 |
| March | 0 | 3.6 |
| April | 7 | 4.8 |
| May | 11 | 4.9 |
| June | 6 | 4.7 |
| July | 12 | 4.2 |
| August | 17 | 3.8 |
| September | 1 | 3.4 |
| October | 0 | 3.2 |
| November | 2 | 3.7 |
| December | 0 | 2.6 |
| County | Flood report days | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | 29 | 31 |
| Jefferson County | 14 | 15 |
| Lincoln County | 14 | 15 |
| St. Louis city | 13 | 13 |
| St. Charles County | 11 | 11 |
| Franklin County | 10 | 11 |
| Warren County | 7 | 8 |
Freezing Nights in St. Louis
St. Louis averages 79 nights a year at or below 32°F (St. Louis Science Center station). About 25 of them drop to 20°F or colder. NOAA counted 13 winter storm, ice or extreme cold days in the 7 Missouri counties of the St. Louis metro area from 2016 to 2025.
Unheated crawl spaces, attics and garages freeze first (Red Cross); keep the heat at 55°F or more (IBHS).
Storms and Disasters in St. Louis
The 7 Missouri counties of the St. Louis metro area were named in 8 federal weather or fire declarations since 2016 (OpenFEMA).
Notable NOAA storm reports
- March 14, 2025: Tornado, EF2 (Franklin County)A tornado developed at 8:56pm on March 14th, 2025 on the east side of Villa Ridge, between American Inn Road and Saint Marys Road north of I-44.
- April 15, 2023: Thunderstorm wind, 100 mph gust (St. Louis County)Thunderstorm winds took most of the roof off of an outbuilding, uprooted several trees and snapped off a very large tree about two feet off the ground. Winds were estimated between 74 and 100 mph in this area.
- July 26, 2022: Flash flood (St. Louis city)Up to 9 inches of rain fell in a period of 8 hours causing catastrophic flooding in portions of the city of St. Louis. Numerous roads were flooded.
- December 10, 2021: Tornado, EF3 (St. Charles County)The tornado developed about a third of a mile northeast of the intersection of Highway 94 and Osage Ridge Road in southwestern St. Charles County around 7:32 PM CDT.
- May 11, 2016: Hail, 4 inch hail (St. Charles County)Very large hail up to 4 inches in diameter fell across portions of St. Charles County. The hardest hit areas stretched from near Dardenne Prairie, O'Fallon and Weldon Spring east to Cottleville, St. Peters and St. Charles.
Federal disaster declarations
- June 9, 2025: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And FloodingSevere Storm, FEMA DR-4877
- May 21, 2025: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And WildfiresSevere Storm, FEMA DR-4867
- August 8, 2022: Severe Storms And FloodingFlood, FEMA DR-4665
- September 1, 2021: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And FloodingSevere Storm, FEMA DR-4612
- July 9, 2019: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And FloodingSevere Storm, FEMA DR-4451
- June 2, 2017: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And FloodingFlood, FEMA DR-4317
St. Louis Housing at a Glance
Census figures for the city of St. Louis (American Community Survey, 2020 to 2024): 174,111 housing units, a median build year of 1938, 86% built before 1980, 82% before 1970, 45% owner occupied.
Missouri Insurance Rules for Water Claims
Missouri insurers must provide the forms needed to file a claim within 15 calendar days of a request (RSMo 375.1007).
Claim problems in Missouri go to the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance.
Flood damage needs a separate flood policy, which typically starts 30 days after purchase (FloodSmart). Look up St. Louis flood zones on FEMA's flood maps.
Restoration Cost Guide for St. Louis
| Typical range (national) | Cost |
|---|---|
| Most jobs | $1,305 to $5,707 |
| Sewage, per sq ft | $7 to $7.50 |
| Average insurer payout, water or freeze claim | $15,400 |
Sources: Bob Vila, May 2023; III, 2019 to 2023.
Areas Served Around St. Louis
The same 24/7 line covers the St. Louis metro area, including:
- St. Louis
- O'Fallon
- St. Charles
- St. Peters
- Florissant
- Chesterfield
- Wentzville
- Wildwood
- University City
- Ballwin
- Kirkwood
- Maryland Heights
Other Missouri city guides
Questions
When is the first freeze in St. Louis?
The median first night at or below 32°F is November 4 and the median last is April 1 at the St. Louis Science Center station (NOAA normals, 1991 to 2020).
How fast does mold start?
Dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours (EPA).
Sources: NOAA Storm Events, NOAA normals, OpenFEMA, Census ACS, RSMo 375.1007, EPA mold guide.