Photo: Myotus · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Greenfield faces less hazard damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenfield gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #69 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then hail (12%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2014.
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 Greenfield 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
Hail
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 Greenfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greenfield, and Greenfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 12%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #69 of 274 in Minnesota; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Greenfield’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, Greenfield has less expected damage per building than 75% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Greenfield: $816K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greenfield flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2014
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greenfield, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Greenfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hennepin County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Greenfield
Disasters that paid out in Greenfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Greenfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$17K to the City of Greenfield for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Hennepin County has had 14 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 Greenfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greenfield archive →Greenfield and its neighbors
Greenfield is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Corcoran | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Greenfield | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hanover | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Franklin Township | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rockford | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rockford Township | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
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 Greenfield 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.
- 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.
- 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 Greenfield
Is Greenfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenfield has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #69 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and hail (12%). 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 Greenfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Greenfield since 2014, $2K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Greenfield 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 Hennepin 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 Greenfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greenfield’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 Greenfield?
By FEMA money that reached Greenfield, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2014): $17K to the City of Greenfield for repairs.
Is Greenfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Greenfield’s rate for it is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greenfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greenfield’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.