Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Stewartville 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, Stewartville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #131 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then tornadoes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1979.
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 Stewartville 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 Stewartville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Stewartville, and Stewartville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 14% (higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
B #131 of 274 in Minnesota; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Stewartville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Minnesota town has lower expected damage than 57% of U.S. towns; within the state, Stewartville has less expected damage per building than 52% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Stewartville: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Stewartville flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Stewartville, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Stewartville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Olmsted County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Stewartville
Disasters that paid out in Stewartville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Stewartville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding19 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
Olmsted County has had 12 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 Stewartville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Stewartville archive →Get ready for what Stewartville 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 Stewartville
Is Stewartville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stewartville has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #131 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and tornadoes (14%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Stewartville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Stewartville since 1979, $1K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Stewartville 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 Olmsted County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Stewartville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Stewartville’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 Stewartville?
By FEMA money that reached Stewartville, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 19 households applied for aid, $20K approved.
Is Stewartville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Stewartville’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Stewartville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Stewartville’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.