FEMA puts Mountain Iron’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mountain Iron gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #7 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). 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 Mountain Iron 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 Mountain Iron’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mountain Iron, and Mountain Iron’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
A #7 of 274 in Minnesota; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mountain Iron’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, Mountain Iron has less expected damage per building than 98% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Mountain Iron: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mountain Iron flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Mountain Iron. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Mountain Iron isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Louis County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mountain Iron
Disasters that paid out in Mountain Iron itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Mountain Iron), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding26 households applied for aid$102K aid approved
- 1999Severe Storms, Winds, and Flooding$41K to the City of Mountain Iron for repairs
St. Louis County has had 13 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 St. Louis County, 2025–2025.
Old photos of Mountain Iron after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mountain Iron archive →Mountain Iron and its neighbors
Mountain Iron is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eveleth | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Mountain Iron | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Virginia | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Great Scott Township | — | 471 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Clinton Township | — | 949 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Wuori Township | — | 541 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Leonidas | — | 37 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 Mountain Iron 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 Mountain Iron
Is Mountain Iron at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mountain Iron has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #7 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Mountain Iron 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 St. Louis County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Mountain Iron?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mountain Iron’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 Mountain Iron?
By FEMA money that reached Mountain Iron, Severe Storms and Flooding (2024): 26 households applied for aid, $102K approved.
Is Mountain Iron at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Mountain Iron’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mountain Iron.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mountain Iron’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.