Thief River Falls Public Library · Photo: Andrew Filer · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Thief River Falls faces more hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Thief River Falls gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #272 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1996.
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 Thief River Falls 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 Thief River Falls’ grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Thief River Falls, and Thief River Falls’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
D #272 of 274 in Minnesota; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Thief River Falls’ residents live in 5 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, Thief River Falls has more expected damage per building than 99% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.9M a year in losses across Thief River Falls: $7.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Thief River Falls flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Thief River Falls, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Thief River Falls isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Pennington County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Thief River Falls
Disasters that paid out in Thief River Falls itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Thief River Falls), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$329K to the City of Thief River Falls for repairs
- 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$5K to the City of Thief River Falls for repairs
- 1999Severe Ice Storm and Flooding$19K to the City of Thief River Falls for repairs
Pennington County has had 17 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 Thief River Falls after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Thief River Falls archive →Thief River Falls and its neighbors
Thief River Falls is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocksbury Township | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Thief River Falls | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| North Township | — | 520 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 Thief River Falls 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 Thief River Falls
Is Thief River Falls at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Thief River Falls has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #272 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Thief River Falls flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Thief River Falls since 1996, $13K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Thief River Falls 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 Pennington County, 0.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Thief River Falls?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Thief River Falls’ 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 Thief River Falls?
By FEMA money that reached Thief River Falls, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2022): $329K to the City of Thief River Falls for repairs.
Is Thief River Falls at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Thief River Falls’ rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Thief River Falls.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Thief River Falls’ 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.