Missouri River Flooding History and Flood Risk by Area in Saint Joseph
By the Pro St. Joseph Water Damage Restoration team · November 5, 2026
Saint Joseph sits directly on the Missouri River and has a well-documented flood history — most notably the Great Flood of 1993, and significant flood events again in 2011 and 2019. Flood risk today varies significantly by area, generally rising the closer a property sits to the river, its floodplain, or a tributary creek corridor.
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A Brief Flood History
The Great Flood of 1993 remains one of the most significant flood events in the Missouri River basin's modern history, with record or near-record river levels affecting communities up and down the river, including Saint Joseph. The region saw major flooding again in 2011, driven by heavy snowmelt and sustained upstream releases, and again in 2019, when a wet spring combined with levee breaches along the river caused widespread flooding across Northwest Missouri.
These events remain reference points for how the Missouri River can rise well beyond its normal banks given the right combination of snowmelt, upstream rainfall, and reservoir releases from the river's upstream dam system.
Which Areas Carry Higher Risk Today
Flood risk isn't evenly distributed across Saint Joseph and Buchanan County:
- River-corridor and low-lying south side areas nearest the Missouri River and the rail/industrial district see the most direct water-intrusion exposure during high-water years.
- Towns directly on the river like Rushville and Elwood, Kansas, carry real flood exposure given their riverside location.
- Higher-elevation and inland areas further from the river — much of northwest and far east Saint Joseph — see comparatively lower direct flood risk from the river itself, though sump pump failures and heavy-rain groundwater seepage still cause basement flooding regardless of location.
What This Means Practically
Whether or not you're near the Missouri River, every home in the region can experience water damage from sources unrelated to river flooding — burst pipes, sump pump failures, roof leaks, and appliance failures happen everywhere. If you are in a higher flood-risk area, it's worth checking whether your homeowners policy includes flood coverage, since standard policies typically don't (see our insurance guide).