Photo: Finetooth · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Mill City than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mill City gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then earthquakes (18%). 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 Mill City 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
Earthquakes
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 Mill City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mill City, and Mill City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 2%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mill City’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Mill City: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mill City flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Mill City. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Mill City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Linn County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mill City
Disasters that paid out in Mill City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Mill City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Wildfires and Straight-line Winds322 households applied for aid$487K aid approved$1.1M to the City of Mill City for repairs
- 2002Severe Winter Storm with High Winds$2K to the City of Mill City for repairs
Linn County has had 16 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.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Linn County, 2003–2020.
Old photos of Mill City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mill City archive →Get ready for what Mill City 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Mill City
Is Mill City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mill City has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Mill City 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 Linn County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mill City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mill City’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 Mill City?
By FEMA money that reached Mill City, Wildfires and Straight-line Winds (2020): 322 households applied for aid, $487K approved, and $1.1M to the City of Mill City for repairs.
Is Mill City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Mill City’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mill City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mill City’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.