Richland · Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Blaine as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blaine gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then earthquakes (11%). 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 Blaine 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
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 Blaine’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Blaine, and Blaine’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 11% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
B lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Blaine’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $455K a year in losses across Blaine: $304K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Blaine flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Blaine. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Blaine isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Grainger County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Blaine
Disasters that paid out in Blaine itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Blaine), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$24K to the City of Blaine for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding$8K to the City of Blaine for repairs
Grainger County has had 15 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 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Grainger County, 2000–2000.
Old photos of Blaine after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Blaine archive →Get ready for what Blaine 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.
- 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 Blaine
Is Blaine at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blaine has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and earthquakes (11%). 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 Blaine 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 Grainger County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Blaine?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Blaine’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 Blaine?
By FEMA money that reached Blaine, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2019): $24K to the City of Blaine for repairs.
Is Blaine at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Blaine’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Blaine.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Blaine’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.