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Becker County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
47th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$12Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Becker County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 63% of US counties. It ranks 47th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $12 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $335 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2011 (severe storms and flooding). Only 5 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 92 claims here, including $550,000 for floods in 1998.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Becker County

$7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 17 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow52.2
$7M
TornadoLow56.8
$2M
Cold waveLow55.1
$1M
Strong windLow49.6
$545K
HailLow63.5
$428K
Winter weatherHigh89.5
$391K
WildfireLow77.2
$313K
DroughtLow48.4
$130K
Heat waveVery Low26.3
$107K
LightningVery Low20.7
$71K
LandslideLow78.8
$14K
Ice stormVery Low13.2
$8K
EarthquakeVery Low7.6
$7K

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 relatively moderate 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 Becker County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood8
Severe Storm7
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 10, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 9, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 5, 2006FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 14, 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 27, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1995Severe Thunderstorms, Winds, Flooding, Tornadoes, and HeatMajor disaster
Show all 17
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 22, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jul 17, 1975Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1966FloodingMajor disaster

Minnesota also had 26 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 500 storm reports in Becker County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $7.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 5, 1965.

35tornadoes
257hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
176damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 5, 1965F2–0 / 0
Jun 24, 2022EF2Rochert0 / 0
Jul 6, 2026EF2Westbury3 / 0
Aug 20, 1975F1–0 / 0
Jun 12, 2008EF1Two Inlets0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 20, 1975Tornado–$3M
Jul 11, 2017Thunderstorm WindCallaway$800K
Jul 29, 2008Thunderstorm WindOsage$600K
Jul 11, 2017Thunderstorm WindShoreham$400K
Jul 11, 2017Thunderstorm WindDetroit Lakes$350K
Jun 12, 2008TornadoTwo Inlets$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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 Becker County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 92 flood claims since 1978
1998costliest year, with $550,449 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 Becker County

$291,000median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.7%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; 20,005 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
Clay CountyLow27
Otter Tail CountyLow15
Hubbard CountyVery Low8
Wadena CountyVery Low13
Clearwater CountyVery Low14
Norman CountyVery Low30
Mahnomen CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Becker County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Becker County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Becker County, about $7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Becker County had?

Becker County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in May 2011.

Is Becker County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 47th 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 Becker County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Becker County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Becker County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 5, 1965. The weather service has also logged 257 hail reports and 25 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.