Sherwood Forest Lodge Complex · Photo: Kelvin0mql · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Lake Shore as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Shore gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). 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 Lake Shore 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
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 Lake Shore’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lake Shore, and Lake Shore’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts).
B lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lake Shore’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $566K a year in losses across Lake Shore: $385K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lake Shore flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Lake Shore. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Lake Shore isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cass County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Lake Shore
Disasters that paid out in Lake Shore itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lake Shore), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$5K to the City of Lake Shore for repairs
Cass County has had 10 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 Lake Shore after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lake Shore archive →Lake Shore and its neighbors
Lake Shore is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nisswa | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Lake Shore | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Fairview Township | — | not graded yet | |
| Home Brook Township | — | 290 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Loon Lake Township | — | 831 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 Lake Shore 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.
- 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 Lake Shore
Is Lake Shore at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lake Shore has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Lake Shore 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 Cass County, 0.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lake Shore?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lake Shore’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 Lake Shore?
By FEMA money that reached Lake Shore, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2022): $5K to the City of Lake Shore for repairs.
Is Lake Shore at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Lake Shore’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lake Shore.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lake Shore’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.