Quick answer
For water damage in Higbee, MO, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. For a meter or main break, call City Hall at 660-456-7414. Then call a water damage restoration company; drying should start within 24 to 48 hours. Missouri insurers must acknowledge your claim within 10 working days.
Do this first
Local water and sewer lines.
- Shut off the water. Shut the main valve. Higbee runs its own water lines, so call City Hall at 660-456-7414 about a break at the meter or main, Tuesday through Friday.
- Make it safe and document it. Cut power to wet rooms from a dry spot, photograph the damage, then report the claim.
- Start drying within 24 to 48 hours. Higbee charges a $100 fee to reconnect water after a shutoff for nonpayment, and payments after 2 p.m. wait until the next business day. Keep the account current while repairs run.
About 21% of Higbee homes are mobile homes and half were built before 1960. The Moberly weather station averages about 102 freezing nights a year.
What to know about water damage in Higbee
$199,478
Damage FEMA inspectors found at homes in ZIP 65257 after the March 2006 storms and tornadoes. Seven owners applied and 2 homes had inspected damage.
Water from Thomas Hill
Higbee buys its water from Thomas Hill PWSD 1, which draws from Moberly and the Clarence Cannon wholesale system, and serves about 560 people.
Source: Higbee 2025 water quality report
A four-cell lagoon
City sewage goes to a four-cell lagoon designed for 120,000 gallons a day and 1,200 people. It runs about 93,600 gallons a day into the Salt Fork.
Source: Missouri DNR permit MO-0093505
Named for Joseph Higbee
Higbee was settled in 1872 on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas line and named for Joseph Higbee, an early settler of Moniteau Township.
Source: State Historical Society of Missouri, Randolph County place names
Homes in Higbee
The median home dates to 1958 and about 50% were built before 1960. About 73% are owner-occupied, and about 21% are mobile homes.
Freezes and rain
The NOAA weather station at Moberly, about 9.7 miles away, averages 102.1 nights a year at or below 32°F and 40.9 at or below 20°F. In half of years the first freeze comes by October 25 and the last one after April 13. Pipes in outside walls, unheated basements, and crawlspaces are the first to split. It also averages 42.7 inches of rain a year, with about 11.9 days of an inch or more.
Check your ZIP
How often does Randolph County get flash flood warnings?
The National Weather Service issued 24 flash flood warnings that included Randolph County from 2016 through November 12, 2026, peaking at 4 in 2019. Each one means flooding is happening or about to happen.
Source: our count from the National Weather Service warning archive, Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
| Year | Warnings |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Cost and insurance in Higbee
How much does water damage restoration cost in Higbee?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Storm water that comes in from outside is a flood claim. Older homes with plaster and mobile homes with belly wrap both take extra time to dry.
Water removal and restoration in Higbee
The company that answers handles tornado and storm roof leaks, frozen pipes in mobile homes, burst pipes, water heater failures, and sewer backups, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
Higbee questions
When is Higbee City Hall open?
Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 660-456-7414.
What is the late fee on a Higbee water bill?
$10 after the due date. Service can be shut off if the bill is not paid by the 5th of the next month.
Where does Higbee's water come from?
Thomas Hill PWSD 1, which buys from Moberly and the Clarence Cannon wholesale commission.
Who was Higbee named for?
Joseph Higbee, an early settler and prominent citizen of Moniteau Township.
How much sewage does the Higbee lagoon handle?
About 93,600 gallons a day, against a design limit of 120,000. Heavy rain that leaks into old sewer lines pushes that number up.
Can I pay my Higbee water bill after hours?
Yes, by phone with a card, online, or in the drop box. Payments made after 2 p.m. are applied the next business day.
Related guides
Other Missouri towns- Burst pipe, not frozen
- Water mitigation vs. restoration
- Burst pipe repair cost
- Missouri insurance claim rules, in plain English
- Frozen and burst pipes: what to do
- Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
- How long water damage takes to dry
Local phone numbers checked November 2026: