Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Ortonville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ortonville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then tornadoes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 36 claims here since 1997.
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 Ortonville 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 Ortonville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ortonville, and Ortonville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ortonville’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Ortonville: $727K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ortonville flood? Sometimes: 36 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ortonville, from FEMA’s records: 33.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Severe flooding11 claims · $46K
Ortonville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Big Stone County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ortonville
Disasters that paid out in Ortonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Ortonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$12K to the City of Ortonville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$11K to the City of Ortonville for repairs
- 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$9K to the City of Ortonville for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$41K to the City of Ortonville for repairs
- 2010Flooding$8K to the City of Ortonville for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$34K to the City of Ortonville for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
Big Stone County has had 15 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 Ortonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ortonville archive →Ortonville and its neighbors
Ortonville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ortonville | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Ortonville Township | — | 68 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Big Stone Township | — | 426 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Big Stone Township | — | 243 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Big Stone City | — | 706 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 Ortonville 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 Ortonville
Is Ortonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ortonville has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ortonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 36 claims in Ortonville since 1997, $362K in all, or 33.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Severe flooding (11).
Is Ortonville 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 Big Stone County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ortonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ortonville’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 Ortonville?
By FEMA money that reached Ortonville, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): $41K to the City of Ortonville for repairs. By flood claims, Severe flooding: 11 paid, $46K.
Is Ortonville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Ortonville’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ortonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ortonville’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.