Gerald, MO
Gerald wildfire risk explained
Gerald sits at the 59th percentile nationally for wildfire risk to structures — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — per USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model, built from its 799 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Gerald's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 61st percentile nationally.
Where Gerald's buildings actually sit
799 buildings are counted in Gerald, and 62% of them are Indirect exposure — ember-driven risk rather than the 38.1% in Direct exposure or the 0% rated Minimal.
Where Gerald ranks
There's little gap between Gerald's 59th national percentile and its 53rd percentile inside Missouri, which means the state comparison mostly confirms what the national score already shows. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Gerald ranks 12,831 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 13,643 by building count (1 is largest). Within Missouri alone, it ranks 498 of 1,062 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Missouri on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Gerald
At the 59th national percentile, Gerald rates elevated for wildfire risk — well short of the threshold where insurers have been withdrawing coverage, though comparing a quote costs nothing either way.
Hardening a home in Gerald
Because 62% of Gerald's buildings sit in the Indirect zone, sealing the ember pathway (vents, roofing, gutters) is the intervention this page's data actually supports — see the home-hardening guide.
Where Gerald's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind Gerald's 12,831-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Gerald's dominant indirect exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.