Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Clear Lake as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clear Lake gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then tornadoes (15%). 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 Clear 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
Tornadoes
Wildfire
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 Clear Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clear Lake, and Clear Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 15%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B− lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Clear Lake’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Clear Lake: $543K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clear Lake flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Clear Lake. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Clear 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: Deuel County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Clear Lake
Disasters that paid out in Clear Lake itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Clear Lake), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$12K to the City of Clear Lake for repairs
- 2019Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$11K to the City of Clear Lake for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$26K to the City of Clear Lake for repairs
- 2011Flooding$10K to the City of Clear Lake for repairs
- 2005Severe Winter Storm$9K to the City of Clear Lake for repairs
- 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams$4K to the City of Clear Lake for repairs
Deuel County has had 21 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 Clear Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clear Lake archive →Get ready for what Clear 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Clear Lake
Is Clear Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clear Lake has lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and tornadoes (15%). 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 Clear 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 Deuel County, 0.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Clear Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clear 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 Clear Lake?
By FEMA money that reached Clear Lake, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2013): $26K to the City of Clear Lake for repairs.
Is Clear Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Clear Lake’s rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clear Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clear 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.