Photo: KAM32296 · CC BY-SA 4.0Big Lake’s building-damage rate from strong wind is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Big Lake gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #197 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%). 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 Big Lake 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
Strong wind
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 Big Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Big Lake, and Big Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 8%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #197 of 274 in Minnesota; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Big Lake’s residents live in 4 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, Big Lake has more expected damage per building than 72% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Big Lake: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Big Lake flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Big Lake. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Big Lake isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sherburne County.The storms Big Lake remembers
None of the 7 disasters declared for Sherburne County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Big Lake itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Sherburne County has had 7 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.
Get ready for what Big Lake 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.
- 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.
- 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 Big Lake
Is Big Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Big Lake has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #197 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Big Lake 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 Sherburne County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Big Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Big Lake’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Big Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Big Lake’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Big Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Big Lake’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.