Photo: 123dieinafire · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Ham Lake faces more hazard damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ham Lake gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #220 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1980.
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 Ham Lake 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
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 Ham Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ham Lake, and Ham Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 7%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C #220 of 274 in Minnesota; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ham Lake’s residents live in 4 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, Ham Lake has more expected damage per building than 80% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.9M a year in losses across Ham Lake: $5.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ham Lake flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ham Lake, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Ham Lake isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Anoka County.The storms Ham Lake remembers
None of the 9 disasters declared for Anoka County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Ham Lake itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19801 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20061 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20141 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Anoka County has had 9 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Anoka County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Ham Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ham Lake archive →Ham Lake and its neighbors
Ham Lake is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Andover | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| East Bethel | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ham Lake | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Blaine | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
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 Ham Lake 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.
- 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 Ham Lake
Is Ham Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ham Lake has higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #220 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and strong wind (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ham Lake flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Ham Lake since 1980, $37K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Ham Lake 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 Anoka County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ham Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ham Lake’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Ham Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Ham Lake’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ham Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ham Lake’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.