Missouri River floodplain and levee questions on the county's north edge

The Missouri River runs along Cooper County’s northern edge, near Boonville. The low, flat bottomland near the river is different from the higher ground inland. Land in the river bottoms can sit inside a mapped flood zone. Some of it may also sit behind a levee. Where your land falls can change your flood risk, whether you need flood insurance, and what you can build.

Not every parcel in the county carries the same flood risk. If you plan to buy or build near the river, the flood map for that exact spot is the thing to check, and you can look up any address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov. It also helps to ask the county whether a levee or drainage district covers the land. Flood status can change, so it is worth confirming for your specific parcel before you buy or build.