Photo: ElkRiverCommunications · CC BY-SA 4.0Elk River’s building-damage rate from strong wind is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elk River gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #123 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then tornadoes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1985.
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 Elk River 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 Elk River’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elk River, and Elk River’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 10%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B #123 of 274 in Minnesota; lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Elk River’s residents live in 7 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, Elk River has less expected damage per building than 55% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.4M a year in losses across Elk River: $5.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elk River flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elk River, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Elk River 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 Elk River remembers
None of the 7 disasters declared for Sherburne County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Elk River itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19975 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, High Winds, Flooding, declared for Sherburne County
- 19851 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20121 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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.
Old photos of Elk River after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elk River archive →Elk River and its neighbors
Elk River is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nowthen | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Elk River | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Livonia Township | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Otsego | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Big Lake Township | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Dayton | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| 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 Elk River 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 Elk River
Is Elk River at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elk River has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #123 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and tornadoes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elk River flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Elk River since 1985, $30K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Elk River 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 Elk River?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elk River’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Elk River at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Elk River’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elk River.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elk River’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.