Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in L'Anse than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, L'Anse gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then hail (24%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1987.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What L'Anse faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hail
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. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). 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.
What’s behind L'Anse’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in L'Anse, and L'Anse’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 24%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A− lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of L'Anse’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $848K a year in losses across L'Anse: $391K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does L'Anse flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in L'Anse, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
L'Anse isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Baraga County.The storms L'Anse remembers
None of the 4 disasters declared for Baraga County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching L'Anse itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20032 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19871 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Baraga County has had 4 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of L'Anse after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the L'Anse archive →Get ready for what L'Anse faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in L'Anse
Is L'Anse at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, L'Anse has lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and hail (24%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does L'Anse flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in L'Anse since 1987, $14K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is L'Anse 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. In Baraga County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in L'Anse?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for L'Anse’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is L'Anse at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and L'Anse’s rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in L'Anse.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where L'Anse’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.