Photo: Myotus · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Barnesville’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barnesville gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #266 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Barnesville 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
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 Barnesville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Barnesville, and Barnesville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D #266 of 274 in Minnesota; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Barnesville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Minnesota town has lower expected damage than 57% of U.S. towns; within the state, Barnesville has more expected damage per building than 97% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Barnesville: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Barnesville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Barnesville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Barnesville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Clay County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Barnesville
Disasters that paid out in Barnesville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Barnesville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
Clay County has had 24 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Barnesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Barnesville archive →Barnesville and its neighbors
Barnesville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnesville | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Humboldt Township | — | 272 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Barnesville Township | — | 178 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Barnesville 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.
- 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 Barnesville
Is Barnesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barnesville has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #266 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and tornadoes (6%). 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.
Is Barnesville 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 Clay County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Barnesville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Barnesville’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 Barnesville?
By FEMA money that reached Barnesville, Severe Storms and Flooding (2009): 11 households applied for aid, $9K approved.
Is Barnesville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Barnesville’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Barnesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Barnesville’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.