Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Cold Spring than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cold Spring gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #224 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1984.
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 Cold Spring 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 Cold Spring’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cold Spring, and Cold Spring’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 5%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C #224 of 274 in Minnesota; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Cold Spring’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, Cold Spring has more expected damage per building than 82% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Cold Spring: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cold Spring flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cold Spring, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Severe flooding1 claim · $5K
Cold Spring isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Stearns County.The storms Cold Spring remembers
None of the 10 disasters declared for Stearns County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Cold Spring itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19841 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19861 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20011 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, declared for Stearns County
Stearns County has had 10 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.
Old photos of Cold Spring after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cold Spring archive →Get ready for what Cold Spring 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 Cold Spring
Is Cold Spring at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cold Spring has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #224 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (9%). 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 Cold Spring flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Cold Spring since 1984, $33K in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Severe flooding (1).
Is Cold Spring 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 Stearns County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cold Spring?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cold Spring’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 Cold Spring?
By flood claims, Severe flooding: 1 paid, $5K.
Is Cold Spring at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Cold Spring’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cold Spring.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cold Spring’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.