Franconia Township’s building-damage rate from strong wind is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Franconia Township gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns. 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 Franconia Township 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 Franconia Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Franconia Township, and Franconia Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 8%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B− higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Franconia Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $727K a year in losses across Franconia Township: $539K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Franconia Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Franconia Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Franconia Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chisago County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Franconia Township
Disasters that paid out in Franconia Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Franconia Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$6K to Franconia Township for repairs
Chisago County has had 8 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Chisago County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Franconia Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Franconia Township archive →Franconia Township and its neighbors
Franconia Township is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Farmington | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Lindstrom | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Scandia | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Chisago Lake Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Shafer | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Franconia Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Osceola | — | not graded yet | |
| Shafer Township | — | 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 Franconia Township 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 Franconia Township
Is Franconia Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Franconia Township has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. 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 Franconia Township 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 Chisago County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Franconia Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Franconia Township’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 Franconia Township?
By FEMA money that reached Franconia Township, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2001): $6K to Franconia Township for repairs.
Is Franconia Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Franconia Township’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Franconia Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Franconia Township’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.