Photo: J.B. Chandler · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Baker than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baker gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%). 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 Baker 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
Wildfire
Winter storms
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); winter storms is FEMA’s “Winter Weather” (snow, sleet and freezing rain). 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 Baker’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Baker, and Baker’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 6%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Baker’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Baker: $828K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Baker flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Baker. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Baker isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Fallon County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Baker
Disasters that paid out in Baker itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Baker), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Tornado$610K to the City of Baker for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding61 households applied for aid$152K aid approved$91K to the City of Baker for repairs
Fallon County has had 5 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Baker after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Baker archive →Get ready for what Baker 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- Keep a shovel, a blanket and snacks in the car.
- Clear snow from furnace and dryer vents.
- Check on older neighbors when the power goes out.
- 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 Baker
Is Baker at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baker has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and wildfire (6%). 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.
Is Baker 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 Fallon County, 0.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Baker?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Baker’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 Baker?
By FEMA money that reached Baker, Tornado (2016): $610K to the City of Baker for repairs.
Is Baker at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Baker’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Baker.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Baker’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.