FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Prairie Lake as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prairie 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 (76%), then tornadoes (10%). 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 Prairie 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
Hail
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 Prairie Lake’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Prairie Lake, and Prairie Lake’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 9%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B− lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Prairie Lake’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Prairie Lake: $601K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Prairie Lake flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Prairie Lake. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Prairie 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: Barron County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Prairie Lake
Disasters that paid out in Prairie Lake itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Prairie Lake), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$79K to the Town of Prairie Lake for repairs
- 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes$9K to the Town of Prairie Lake for repairs
Barron 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 Prairie Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Prairie Lake archive →Prairie Lake and its neighbors
Prairie Lake is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanley | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Chetek | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Chetek | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Prairie Lake | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Maple Grove | — | not graded yet | |
| Sioux Creek | — | 678 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 Prairie 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.
- 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.
- 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 Prairie Lake
Is Prairie Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prairie 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 (76%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Prairie 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 Barron County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Prairie Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Prairie 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 Prairie Lake?
By FEMA money that reached Prairie Lake, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $79K to the Town of Prairie Lake for repairs.
Is Prairie Lake at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Prairie Lake’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Prairie Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Prairie 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.