Photo: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Little Falls faces more hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Little Falls gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1990.
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 Little Falls 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 Little Falls’ grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Little Falls, and Little Falls’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #274 of 274 in Minnesota; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Little Falls’ 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, Little Falls has more expected damage per building than 100% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.5M a year in losses across Little Falls: $8.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Little Falls flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Little Falls, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Severe flooding2 claims · $3K
Little Falls isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Morrison County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Little Falls
Disasters that paid out in Little Falls itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Little Falls), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$42K to the City of Little Falls for repairs
Morrison 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Morrison County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Little Falls after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Little Falls archive →Little Falls and its neighbors
Little Falls 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Falls Township | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Little Falls | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Pike Creek Township | — | 925 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Belle Prairie Township | — | 579 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Green Prairie Township | — | 675 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 Little Falls 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 Little Falls
Is Little Falls at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Little Falls has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Little Falls flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Little Falls since 1990, $71K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Severe flooding (2).
Is Little Falls 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 Morrison County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Little Falls?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Little Falls’ 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 Little Falls?
By FEMA money that reached Little Falls, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2022): $42K to the City of Little Falls for repairs. By flood claims, Severe flooding: 2 paid, $3K.
Is Little Falls at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Little Falls’ rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Little Falls.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Little Falls’ 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.