Northeastern Hotel · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Cloquet than in 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cloquet gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #209 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2012.
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 Cloquet 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
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 Cloquet’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cloquet, and Cloquet’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #209 of 274 in Minnesota; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cloquet’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, Cloquet has more expected damage per building than 76% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.5M a year in losses across Cloquet: $4.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cloquet flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2012
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cloquet, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Cloquet isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Carlton County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cloquet
Disasters that paid out in Cloquet itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cloquet), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Flooding$212K to the City of Cloquet for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$5K to the City of Cloquet for repairs
Carlton County has had 6 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 Cloquet after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cloquet archive →Cloquet and its neighbors
Cloquet is 4th of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perch Lake Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brevator Township | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Twin Lakes Township | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cloquet | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Thomson Township | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Scanlon | — | not graded yet | |
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 Cloquet 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.
- 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 Cloquet
Is Cloquet at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cloquet has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #209 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cloquet flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Cloquet since 2012, $120K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Cloquet 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 Carlton County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Cloquet?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cloquet’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 Cloquet?
By FEMA money that reached Cloquet, Severe Storms and Flooding (2012): $212K to the City of Cloquet for repairs.
Is Cloquet at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Cloquet’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cloquet.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cloquet’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.