FEMA puts Farmington’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Farmington gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then tornadoes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1995.
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 Farmington 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
Hail
Strong wind
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 Farmington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Farmington, and Farmington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 14%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
A− lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Farmington’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $931K a year in losses across Farmington: $453K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Farmington flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1995
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Farmington, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Farmington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Polk County.The storms Farmington remembers
None of the 7 disasters declared for Polk County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Farmington itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19951 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20231 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Polk County has had 7 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 Farmington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Farmington archive →Farmington and its neighbors
Farmington is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osceola | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Farmington | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Somerset | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Scandia | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Alden | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Star Prairie | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Franconia Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Osceola | — | not graded yet | |
| Marine on St. Croix | — | 740 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 Farmington 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Farmington
Is Farmington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Farmington has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and tornadoes (16%). 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.
Does Farmington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Farmington since 1995, $62K in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Farmington 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 Polk County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Farmington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Farmington’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Farmington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Farmington’s rate for it is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Farmington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Farmington’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.