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Anoka County, Minnesota

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
5th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$127Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$85.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Strong wind

Very High
$12.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Tornado

Moderate
$10.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate92.0
$85M
Strong windVery High98.8
$13M
TornadoModerate87.2
$11M
HailHigh96.2
$6M
Cold waveModerate71.2
$4M
Heat waveModerate86.1
$4M
LightningHigh92.0
$2M
WildfireLow81.6
$851K
Ice stormModerate77.0
$588K
Winter weatherModerate84.1
$463K
EarthquakeVery Low23.2
$66K
DroughtVery Low29.0
$39K
LandslideVery Low43.4
$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

Flood4
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Tornado1
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 7, 2011Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 20, 2000Mn - Carlos Edge Fire Complex - 10/19/2000Fire management
Jun 23, 1998Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 25, 1997Severe Storms, Tornadoes, High Winds, FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Aug 6, 1987Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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.

30tornadoes
254hail reports, largest 4 inches
209damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 6, 1965F4–175 / 3
Jun 19, 1951F4–9 / 1
May 6, 1965F4–0 / 0
Jul 3, 1983F4–4 / 0
May 25, 2008EF3Centerville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 21, 2005Thunderstorm WindCountywide$85M
May 6, 1965Tornado–$25M
May 6, 1965Tornado–$25M
Aug 24, 2006HailAnoka$20M
Sep 21, 2005TornadoCoon Rapids$5M
Jun 19, 1951Tornado–$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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (230 policies)
7.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$449,740paid on 96 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $135,251 paid

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

$346,500median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.3%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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 countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Hennepin CountyHighInland flooding
Ramsey CountyHighInland flooding
Dakota CountyModerateInland flooding
Anoka CountyModerateInland flooding
Washington CountyModerateInland flooding
St. Louis CountyModerateCold wave
Olmsted CountyModerateInland flooding
Stearns CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Hennepin CountyHigh15
Ramsey CountyHigh17
Washington CountyModerate15
Sherburne CountyLow8
Chisago CountyLow10
Isanti CountyVery Low8

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.