Cascade River Wayside · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Grand Marais faces less hazard damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grand Marais gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%), then wildfire (11%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1986.
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 Marais 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
Wildfire
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 Marais’ grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Grand Marais, and Grand Marais’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 11%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
A lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Grand Marais’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $826K a year in losses across Grand Marais: $349K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Grand Marais flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Grand Marais, from FEMA’s records: 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Grand Marais isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cook County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Grand Marais
Disasters that paid out in Grand Marais itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Grand Marais), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$121K to the City of Grand Marais for repairs
- 1999Severe Storms, Winds, and Flooding$3K to the City of Grand Marais for repairs
Cook County has had 7 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 Grand Marais after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Grand Marais archive →Get ready for what Grand Marais 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Marais
Is Grand Marais at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grand Marais has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and wildfire (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Grand Marais flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Grand Marais since 1986, $15K in all, or 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Grand Marais 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 Cook County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Grand Marais?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Grand Marais’ 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 Marais?
By FEMA money that reached Grand Marais, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): $121K to the City of Grand Marais for repairs.
Is Grand Marais at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Grand Marais’ rate for it is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Grand Marais.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Grand Marais’ 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.