Photo: Nfarmakes · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Superior’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Superior gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2011.
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 Superior 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
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 Superior’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Superior, and Superior’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
A− lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Superior’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Superior: $463K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Superior flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Superior, from FEMA’s records: 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Superior isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Douglas County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Superior
Disasters that paid out in Superior itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Superior), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$141K to the Town of Superior for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding$30K to the Town of Superior for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms and Flooding$35K to the Town of Superior for repairs
- 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes$13K to the Town of Superior for repairs
- 1999Wi-flood-07/20/99$22K to the Town of Superior for repairs
Douglas County has had 7 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Superior after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Superior archive →Superior and its neighbors
Superior is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Parkland | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Oakland | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Superior | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Duluth | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| Superior | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Twin Lakes Township | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Oliver | — | 462 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Superior | — | 653 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Silver Brook Township | — | 544 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 Superior 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.
- 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 Superior
Is Superior at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Superior has lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Superior flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Superior since 2011, $390K in all, or 4.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Superior 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 Douglas County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Superior?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Superior’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 Superior?
By FEMA money that reached Superior, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2018): $141K to the Town of Superior for repairs.
Is Superior at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Superior’s rate for it is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Superior.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Superior’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.