Anoka County, Minnesota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Anoka County, Minnesota has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 88% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $127 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $350 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2011 (severe storms and tornadoes). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (230 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $450,000 on 96 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Anoka County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 92.0 | $85M | ||
| Strong wind | 98.8 | $13M | ||
| Tornado | 87.2 | $11M | ||
| Hail | 96.2 | $6M | ||
| Cold wave | 71.2 | $4M | ||
| Heat wave | 86.1 | $4M | ||
| Lightning | 92.0 | $2M | ||
| Wildfire | 81.6 | $851K | ||
| Ice storm | 77.0 | $588K | ||
| Winter weather | 84.1 | $463K | ||
| Earthquake | 23.2 | $66K | ||
| Drought | 29.0 | $39K | ||
| Landslide | 43.4 | $2K |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Anoka County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 11
Minnesota also had 26 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1951
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 533 storm reports in Anoka County since 1951, with 4 deaths and 216 injuries and about $178 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 6, 1965.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 1965 | F4 | – | 175 / 3 |
| Jun 19, 1951 | F4 | – | 9 / 1 |
| May 6, 1965 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1983 | F4 | – | 4 / 0 |
| May 25, 2008 | EF3 | Centerville | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21, 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $85M |
| May 6, 1965 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| May 6, 1965 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Aug 24, 2006 | Hail | Anoka | $20M |
| Sep 21, 2005 | Tornado | Coon Rapids | $5M |
| Jun 19, 1951 | Tornado | – | $3M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 19, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Anoka County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Anoka County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 141,863 housing units.
Compare in Minnesota
All 87 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | Inland flooding | |
| Ramsey County | Inland flooding | |
| Dakota County | Inland flooding | |
| Anoka County | Inland flooding | |
| Washington County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Louis County | Cold wave | |
| Olmsted County | Inland flooding | |
| Stearns County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | 15 | |
| Ramsey County | 17 | |
| Washington County | 15 | |
| Sherburne County | 8 | |
| Chisago County | 10 | |
| Isanti County | 8 |
Cities in Anoka County
Common questions about Anoka County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Anoka County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Anoka County, about $85.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $12.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Anoka County had?
Anoka County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Tornadoes in June 2011.
Is Anoka County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 5th highest of 87 in Minnesota. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Anoka County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Anoka County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Anoka County had?
NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Anoka County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 6, 1965. The weather service has also logged 254 hail reports and 17 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.