On FEMA’s figures, Rice Lake faces less hazard damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rice Lake gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #70 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2001.
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 Rice Lake 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 Rice Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rice Lake, and Rice Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #70 of 274 in Minnesota; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rice Lake’s 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, Rice Lake has less expected damage per building than 75% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $888K a year in losses across Rice Lake: $782K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rice Lake flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2001
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rice Lake, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Severe flooding1 claim · $2K
Rice Lake 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.The storms Rice Lake remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for St. Louis County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Rice Lake itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20011 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, declared for St. Louis County
- 20121 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for St. Louis County
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 Rice Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rice Lake archive →Rice Lake and its neighbors
Rice Lake has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice Lake | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Duluth | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| Canosia Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Gnesen Township | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Rice Lake 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 Rice Lake
Is Rice Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rice Lake has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #70 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rice Lake flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Rice Lake since 2001, $3K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Severe flooding (1).
Is Rice Lake 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 Rice Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rice Lake’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 Rice Lake?
By flood claims, Severe flooding: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Rice Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Rice Lake’s rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rice Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rice Lake’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.