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Straight and Cannon river flooding

The Straight River's record near Faribault is 14.88 feet, set September 24, 2010, about 2 feet above any other crest on the list; June 23, 2024 reached 12.77 feet.1 River water in the house is flood, which takes a separate policy.2

Last reviewed October 24, 20267 sources, numbered in the textSee sources

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The data

The ten highest crests near Faribault

Feet on the National Weather Service gauge, Straight River near Faribault.1

  • September 24, 201014.88 ft
    The record, at 12,200 cubic feet per second.1
  • April 11, 200112.88 ft
  • March 25, 198912.83 ft
  • June 23, 202412.77 ft
    Marked preliminary on the gauge's list.1
  • May 5, 197412.74 ft
  • March 8, 197312.68 ft
  • June 19, 201412.20 ft
  • February 18, 198412.19 ft
  • July 7, 199011.31 ft
  • May 1, 199011.20 ft
National Weather Service, Straight River near Faribault (FRBM5), historic crests list.1

September 2010

The U.S. Geological Survey reports that from September 22 to 24, 2010, rain of 3 to more than 10 inches caused severe flooding across southern Minnesota, setting peak-of-record flows at nine USGS and three Minnesota DNR streamgages.3

Faribault, along the Cannon and Straight rivers, was one of the most severely affected communities, and the USGS surveyed high-water marks there.3

Spring, then summer

Six of the ten highest crests came from February to May, and four from June to September (our count from the National Weather Service list).1 Snowmelt season and summer storms both count.

Insurance

Water sourceUsually
The river rising into the houseNeeds a separate flood policy2
Sewer backing up through a floor drainOnly with sewer backup coverage or a rider2
A frozen pipe that burstCovered by homeowners and renters policies2

A new National Flood Insurance Program policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase, with exceptions.4 Buy it in winter, before the spring crests.

When river water got in

  • Treat it as contaminated: flood water can carry sewage.5
  • Keep generators and gas pumps out of the basement.5
  • Stay out of moving water: 6 inches can knock you down.6
  • Photograph the water line on the walls before cleanup.7

How this works

What happens when you call

It is free to call, and calling commits you to nothing.

  1. A man in a flannel shirt stands at the top of the basement stairs on the phone, looking down at water on the basement floor.
    1

    You call

    Tell them what happened and where. Have the address ready.

  2. 2

    We connect you

    A call network puts you through to an independent local restoration company that serves Faribault and is taking calls.

  3. A technician crouches by a sump pit and points to the pump while the homeowner listens, stone foundation walls behind them.
    3

    They assess and quote

    If you want a visit, they look at the damage and quote their own price. Ask for it in writing.

We are a free referral service, not a contractor. The company that answers sets its own prices. How this service works

Two adults and a young girl smile on the porch of an old white house, a maple in autumn colour in the yard.

Want a local company to look at it?

Free to call. An independent restoration company that serves Faribault answers, and you decide what happens next.

Call (507) 333-9838

Faribault Water Damage Advice is a free referral and information service, not a contractor. Calls go through our call-tracking line to independent local restoration companies, and we may be paid when a call qualifies. We do not do the work and do not set prices or availability. How it works

Sources

Each numbered note on this page points here. We read every page on October 24, 2026. Where sources disagree we say so; where we could not find a source we left the claim out. We are not affiliated with any of these organizations.

  1. National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service, Straight River near Faribault (FRBM5): historic crests. Read October 24, 2026; the June 23, 2024 crest is marked preliminary. water.noaa.gov/gauges/frbm5
  2. Triple-I (Insurance Information Institute), How to protect your home from water damage. No date shown (page copyright 2026). www.iii.org/article/how-to-protect-your-home-from-water-damage
  3. U.S. Geological Survey, Ellison and others, Floods of September 2010 in Southern Minnesota, Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5045. 2011. pubs.usgs.gov/publication/sir20115045
  4. FEMA FloodSmart (National Flood Insurance Program), Buy a Flood Insurance Policy. No date shown. www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy
  5. CDC, Safety Guidelines: Reentering Your Flooded Home. Page updated August 24, 2026. www.cdc.gov/floods/safety/reentering-your-flooded-home-safety.html
  6. National Weather Service (NOAA), Turn Around Don't Drown. Undated page, read October 24, 2026. www.weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown
  7. Triple-I (Insurance Information Institute), Settling insurance claims after a disaster. No date shown (page copyright 2026). www.iii.org/article/settling-insurance-claims-after-a-disaster
Call (507) 333-9838Free service. We'll connect you with a local restoration company. How it works