FEMA puts Grand Lake Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grand Lake Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #93 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). 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 Grand Lake 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
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 Grand Lake Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Grand Lake Township, and Grand Lake Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #93 of 274 in Minnesota; lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Grand Lake Township’s residents live in 2 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, Grand Lake Township has less expected damage per building than 66% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $664K a year in losses across Grand Lake Township: $580K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Grand Lake Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Grand Lake Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Grand Lake 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: St. Louis County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Grand Lake Township
Disasters that paid out in Grand Lake Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Grand Lake Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to Grand Lake Township for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to Grand Lake Township for repairs
- 2022Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$13K to Grand Lake Township for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$5K to Grand Lake Township for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms and Flooding$21K to Grand Lake Township for repairs
- 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$7K to Grand Lake Township for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Severe Storms, Winds, and Flooding$3K to Grand Lake Township for repairs
St. Louis County has had 13 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 St. Louis County, 2025–2025.
Old photos of Grand Lake Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Grand Lake Township archive →Grand Lake Township and its neighbors
Grand Lake Township is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solway Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Grand Lake Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Canosia Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Fredenberg Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Industrial Township | — | 680 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| New Independence Township | — | 343 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Grand Lake 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.
- 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 Grand Lake Township
Is Grand Lake Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grand Lake Township has lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #93 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.
Is Grand Lake 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 St. Louis County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Grand Lake Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Grand Lake 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 Grand Lake Township?
By FEMA money that reached Grand Lake Township, Severe Storms and Flooding (2012): $21K to Grand Lake Township for repairs.
Is Grand Lake Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Grand Lake Township’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Grand Lake Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Grand Lake 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.