Church of St. Boniface · Photo: Gobonobo · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Melrose as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Melrose gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #186 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). 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 Melrose 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 Melrose’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Melrose, and Melrose’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #186 of 274 in Minnesota; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Melrose’s residents live in 2 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, Melrose has more expected damage per building than 68% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Melrose: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Melrose flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Melrose. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Melrose isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Stearns County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Melrose
Disasters that paid out in Melrose itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Melrose), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$12K to the City of Melrose for repairs
- 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$27K to the City of Melrose for repairs
Stearns County has had 10 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 Melrose after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Melrose archive →Melrose and its neighbors
Melrose has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melrose | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Melrose Township | — | not graded yet | |
| Grove Township | — | 480 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 Melrose 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 Melrose
Is Melrose at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Melrose has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #186 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Melrose 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 Stearns 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 Melrose?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Melrose’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 Melrose?
By FEMA money that reached Melrose, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2001): $27K to the City of Melrose for repairs.
Is Melrose at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Melrose’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Melrose.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Melrose’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.