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Beltrami County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
23rd of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$20Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Beltrami County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 61% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $437 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2022 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Beltrami County

$13.5 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.4 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.
$836,478 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow72.6
$14M
Cold waveModerate80.1
$3M
TornadoLow40.8
$836K
Strong windModerate52.9
$565K
WildfireLow82.5
$497K
HailLow60.8
$364K
Winter weatherModerate84.5
$247K
DroughtLow58.4
$239K
Heat waveLow39.9
$215K
LightningLow44.8
$181K
LandslideLow73.7
$8K
Ice stormVery Low13.6
$8K
EarthquakeVery Low6.2
$6K

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 Beltrami County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood10
Severe Storm7
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 13, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2014Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 10, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 9, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 14, 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 28, 1999Severe Storms, Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Show all 19
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jun 1, 1996Flooding and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1995Severe Thunderstorms, Winds, Flooding, Tornadoes, and HeatMajor disaster
Aug 6, 1987Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jul 17, 1975Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1970Heavy 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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 616 storm reports in Beltrami County since 1956, with 2 deaths and 0 injuries and about $20.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on July 26, 2021 near Redlake.

44tornadoes
315hail reports, largest 3 inches
237damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 26, 2021EF1Redlake0 / 0
Jul 26, 2021EF1Redby0 / 0
Apr 27, 1974F1–0 / 0
Jul 4, 2018EF1Bemidji0 / 0
Jul 21, 2017EF1Saum0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 20, 2025Thunderstorm WindSolway$15M
Jun 12, 2008HailBemidji$1M
Jul 26, 2021TornadoRedlake$1M
Jul 21, 1996HailBemidji$600K
Jul 26, 2021TornadoRedby$500K
Apr 27, 1974Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 24, 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 Beltrami County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$11,207paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $7,287 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 Beltrami County

$237,500median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1987median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
42%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.5%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; 21,729 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
Itasca CountyLow13
Cass CountyLow12
Hubbard CountyVery Low8
Roseau CountyLow24
Pennington CountyLow18
Koochiching CountyVery Low10
Marshall CountyVery Low28
Clearwater CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Beltrami County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Beltrami County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Beltrami County, about $13.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $3.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Beltrami County had?

Beltrami County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in July 2022.

Is Beltrami County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 23rd 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 Beltrami 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 Beltrami County had?

NOAA records list 44 tornadoes in Beltrami County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on July 26, 2021 near Redlake. The weather service has also logged 315 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.