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StPaulAlaskaPhoto: Public domain · Public domain
–Not graded
Natural hazards in St. Paul · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in St. Paul

St. Paul isn’t graded for hazard risk: St. Paul has 378 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more.

Flood claims
0
paid since 1978 · $0
Disasters paid out here
1
of 4 declared for its 2 counties
By hazard

What St. Paul faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Tsunamis

77%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts

Earthquakes

22%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Volcanic activity top 0% Landslides top 2% Tornadoes Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
River and rain floodingCoastal floodingHurricanesHailStrong windWildfireHeat wavesAvalanches
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts tsunamis at 92% of St. Paul’s expected losses. Tsunamis do little damage to buildings (76.7%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.

Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Flood insurance claims

Does St. Paul flood? No paid flood claims on record

FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in St. Paul. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.

Disasters

1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to St. Paul

Disasters that paid out in St. Paul itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of St. Paul), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2022Severe Storm, Flooding, and Landslides$20K to the City of St. Paul for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in St. Paulits 2 counties only

Its 2 counties have had 4 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.

Were you here?

Old photos of St. Paul after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the St. Paul archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what St. Paul faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

Tsunamis
  • Strong shaking or a sudden drop in the sea means head for high ground now.
  • Learn the tsunami route signs near the shore.
  • Stay away until officials say it’s safe.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
  • Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
  • Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in St. Paul

Is St. Paul in a flood zone?

Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map.

How much is flood insurance in St. Paul?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for St. Paul’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in St. Paul?

By FEMA money that reached St. Paul, Severe Storm, Flooding, and Landslides (2022): $20K to the City of St. Paul for repairs.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in St. Paul.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where St. Paul’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.