Porter Kelsey House · Photo: Elkman · CC BY-SA 3.0For strong wind, Andover’s building-damage rate is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Andover gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #135 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2001.
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 Andover 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
Strong wind
Hail
Tornadoes
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 Andover’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Andover, and Andover’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 9%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B #135 of 274 in Minnesota; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Andover’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Minnesota town has lower expected damage than 57% of U.S. towns; within the state, Andover has less expected damage per building than 51% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.9M a year in losses across Andover: $6.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Andover flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2001
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Andover, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Severe flooding1 claim · $1K
Andover isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Anoka County.The storms Andover remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Anoka County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Andover itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20011 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, declared for Anoka County
Anoka County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Anoka County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Andover after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Andover archive →Andover and its neighbors
Andover has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andover | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Oak Grove | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Coon Rapids | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Ham Lake | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Anoka | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Ramsey | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Andover 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Andover
Is Andover at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Andover has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #135 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and strong wind (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Andover flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Andover since 2001, $1K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Severe flooding (1).
Is Andover 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 Anoka County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Andover?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Andover’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 Andover?
By flood claims, Severe flooding: 1 paid, $1K.
Is Andover at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Andover’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Andover.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Andover’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.