Flood Help Guide

Minnesota flood insurance and flood history

From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08

12,474NFIP flood claims since 1978
$157.3 millionPaid on those claims
$29,315Average paid claimlast 10 years
0.2%Homes with NFIP flood insurance
27Flood disaster declarationssince 2000

FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 12,474 flood insurance claims in Minnesota since 1978. The NFIP paid $157.3 million on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).

The year with the most claims was 1997, with 3,266, mostly from Flooding.

In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 718 claims, and the average paid claim was $29,315.

38% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).

About 0.2% of homes in Minnesota had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (5,166 of 2,272,492 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 17% (2,778 of 16,708).

Since 2000, FEMA has made 27 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of Minnesota. The most recent was DR-4797-MN (Severe Storms and Flooding), declared June 28, 2024.

Flood insurance claims in Minnesota by year

NFIP flood claims per year in Minnesota, 1978 to 202601.2k2.5k3.8k5k1978: 1,052 claims, $6.7 million paid1979: 1,019 claims, $4.1 million paid1980: 81 claims, $173,774 paid19801981: 78 claims, $317,957 paid1982: 52 claims, $88,076 paid1983: 202 claims, $1.1 million paid1984: 141 claims, $1.3 million paid1985: 76 claims, $576,713 paid1986: 338 claims, $1.2 million paid1987: 138 claims, $1.3 million paid1988: 6 claims, $0 paid1989: 161 claims, $527,567 paid1990: 46 claims, $137,146 paid19901991: 36 claims, $113,087 paid1992: 23 claims, $62,937 paid1993: 394 claims, $1.9 million paid1994: 23 claims, $60,170 paid1995: 18 claims, $26,133 paid1996: 347 claims, $1.5 million paid1997: 3,266 claims, $60.6 million paid1998: 130 claims, $1.7 million paid1999: 151 claims, $1.6 million paid2000: 223 claims, $2.3 million paid20002001: 832 claims, $8.0 million paid2002: 353 claims, $4.1 million paid2003: 41 claims, $463,189 paid2004: 136 claims, $6.0 million paid2005: 35 claims, $144,680 paid2006: 68 claims, $906,962 paid2007: 139 claims, $4.9 million paid2008: 71 claims, $863,082 paid2009: 467 claims, $7.4 million paid2010: 473 claims, $9.9 million paid20102011: 444 claims, $2.9 million paid2012: 166 claims, $3.4 million paid2013: 94 claims, $549,246 paid2014: 291 claims, $2.9 million paid2015: 23 claims, $29,700 paid2016: 122 claims, $2.7 million paid2017: 13 claims, $50,926 paid2018: 63 claims, $590,985 paid2019: 273 claims, $4.9 million paid2020: 50 claims, $493,749 paid20202021: 6 claims, $32,574 paid2022: 62 claims, $986,417 paid2023: 92 claims, $1.8 million paid2024: 137 claims, $5.7 million paid2025: 18 claims, $60,226 paid2026: 4 claims, $119,026 paid
NFIP claims per year by year of loss. Hover or tap a bar for the count and amount paid. 2026 is partial.
Show as a table
YearClaimsPaid
20264$119,026
202518$60,226
2024137$5.7 million
202392$1.8 million
202262$986,417
20216$32,574
202050$493,749
2019273$4.9 million
201863$590,985
201713$50,926
2016122$2.7 million
201523$29,700
2014291$2.9 million
201394$549,246
2012166$3.4 million
2011444$2.9 million
2010473$9.9 million
2009467$7.4 million
200871$863,082
2007139$4.9 million
200668$906,962
200535$144,680
2004136$6.0 million
200341$463,189
2002353$4.1 million
2001832$8.0 million
2000223$2.3 million
1999151$1.6 million
1998130$1.7 million
19973,266$60.6 million
1996347$1.5 million
199518$26,133
199423$60,170
1993394$1.9 million
199223$62,937
199136$113,087
199046$137,146
1989161$527,567
19886$0
1987138$1.3 million
1986338$1.2 million
198576$576,713
1984141$1.3 million
1983202$1.1 million
198252$88,076
198178$317,957
198081$173,774
19791,019$4.1 million
19781,052$6.7 million

Biggest flood events by NFIP payments

The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for Minnesota, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.

EventYearClaimsPaid
Flooding19973,175$60.0 million
Severe flooding2001714$7.4 million
June Midwest Flooding2024117$5.3 million
Flooding1978559$4.5 million
Not a named storm1979869$3.7 million
Torrential rain2002269$3.3 million
Winter storm2009145$2.5 million
Midwest Flooding1993249$1.2 million
Flooding1987122$1.2 million

Flood history by county

Every Minnesota county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy.

CountyClaimsPaidInsuredFlood declarations
Polk County1,455$36.3 million0.5%12
Marshall County1,405$6.8 million0.5%12
Clay County1,358$13.8 million0.7%11
Mower County733$11.2 million0.4%7
Olmsted County719$5.3 million0.3%6
Hennepin County682$4.6 million0.2%5
Washington County533$5.4 million0.3%4
Wilkin County495$7.4 million0.9%11
Roseau County279$3.4 million0.4%10
Kittson County247$1.8 million0.7%12
Norman County247$2.5 million1.4%12
Wright County223$2.0 million0.2%5
Goodhue County209$2.7 million0.4%8
St. Louis County183$1.8 million0.3%7
Dakota County181$3.9 million0.1%4
Chippewa County172$2.5 million0.1%11
Wabasha County162$3.4 million0.5%6
Traverse County146$1.1 million1.0%11
Yellow Medicine County146$1.9 million0.2%12
Ramsey County145$1.3 million0.1%7
Scott County117$1.1 million0.2%6
Winona County115$3.9 million0.5%5
Stearns County112$1.1 million0.2%4
Otter Tail County109$1.4 million0.0%4
Fillmore County99$753,1140.5%7
Anoka County96$451,1390.2%1
Aitkin County95$754,7870.5%6
Becker County92$1.1 million0.0%6
Big Stone County92$834,2941.0%9
Blue Earth County92$1.3 million0.2%10
Steele County90$2.0 million0.4%8
Le Sueur County87$2.7 million0.7%8
Nobles County83$209,4280.2%9
Houston County78$1.1 million0.3%10
Rice County78$3.6 million0.3%6
Carver County70$214,8600.2%7
Lyon County63$163,4510.3%8
Pine County60$1.4 million0.5%6
Nicollet County59$552,9790.2%10
Sherburne County59$478,3170.3%0
Morrison County50$613,3640.2%4
Benton County46$179,9710.5%2
Freeborn County45$901,7350.1%11
Lac qui Parle County45$224,3580.1%10
Cottonwood County43$469,6320.8%6
Chisago County37$421,7270.1%2
Brown County35$493,3760.2%10
Dodge County32$476,4850.3%7
Rock County29$162,1110.3%6
Hubbard County28$291,6980.0%2
Isanti County26$226,3630.3%2
Pennington County25$57,7760.1%5
Mille Lacs County24$118,9300.4%3
Kanabec County21$172,9980.1%4
Jackson County20$366,1470.3%6
Carlton County19$627,1710.2%4
McLeod County19$102,5070.2%9
Koochiching County17$322,3580.3%5
Pipestone County17$357,3940.1%6
Douglas County16$281,3020.0%5
Watonwan County16$1.1 million0.0%5
Clearwater County15$234,5190.0%6
Cook County15$64,4920.2%5
Murray County15$165,7150.3%5
Crow Wing County13$71,7150.2%3
Todd County13$126,6360.3%4
Cass County12$65,4010.0%5
Faribault County12$70,4460.1%10
Itasca County12$121,9070.1%5
Sibley County12$66,2150.0%12
Swift County12$143,9980.1%9
Mahnomen County10$149,6070.1%6
Lake County9$938,2690.1%6
Waseca County9$111,2060.1%5
Kandiyohi County8$132,3260.1%5
Pope County7$38,0980.1%6
Wadena County7$32,4640.2%5
Meeker County6$141,5840.3%3
Renville County6$69,6900.0%12
Lake of the Woods County5$128,6190.6%6
Beltrami County3$11,2070.0%7
Grant County3$62,4200.0%9
Lincoln County3$7,4960.0%4
Redwood County3$143,4520.1%11
Red Lake County2$8,2410.0%8
Stevens County2$7,9260.1%9
Martin County0$00.0%6

Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in Minnesota

Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.

DeclarationDeclaredEventHelp for individuals
DR-4797-MN Jun 28, 2024 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-4722-MN Jul 19, 2023 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4666-MN Aug 9, 2022 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4659-MN Jul 13, 2022 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4658-MN Jul 8, 2022 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-4442-MN Jun 12, 2019 Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4414-MN Feb 1, 2019 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4390-MN Sep 5, 2018 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4290-MN Nov 2, 2016 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-4182-MN Jul 21, 2014 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides No
DR-4131-MN Jul 25, 2013 Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding No
DR-4069-MN Jul 6, 2012 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-4009-MN Jul 28, 2011 Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes No
DR-1982-MN May 10, 2011 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1941-MN Oct 13, 2010 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1921-MN Jul 2, 2010 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding No
DR-1900-MN Apr 19, 2010 Flooding No
EM-3310-MN Mar 19, 2010 Flooding No
DR-1830-MN Apr 9, 2009 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
EM-3304-MN Mar 26, 2009 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1772-MN Jun 25, 2008 Severe Storms and Flooding No
DR-1717-MN Aug 23, 2007 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1648-MN Jun 5, 2006 Flooding No
DR-1569-MN Oct 7, 2004 Severe Storms and Flooding Yes
DR-1419-MN Jun 14, 2002 Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes Yes

Showing the 25 most recent of 27.

What to do with this

A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.

Where these numbers come from

All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:

FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.