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Carver County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
24th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$41Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Carver County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 60% of US counties. It ranks 24th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $41 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $387 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (88 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $215,000 on 70 claims here.

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

Top risks in Carver County

$18 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$7.5 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.
$5.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow60.4
$18M
TornadoModerate79.5
$8M
Strong windHigh94.2
$5M
Cold waveModerate73.8
$5M
HailModerate85.6
$2M
Heat waveLow73.7
$2M
LightningLow38.7
$300K
Ice stormModerate61.5
$284K
Winter weatherLow49.7
$125K
DroughtLow36.2
$92K
WildfireVery Low39.3
$49K
EarthquakeVery Low9.0
$17K
LandslideLow66.9
$9K

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 Carver County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood9
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 28, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2014Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 10, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 13, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2010FloodingEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1998Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 6, 1987Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor 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 471 storm reports in Carver County since 1956, with 3 deaths and 191 injuries and about $125 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 6, 1965.

26tornadoes
191hail reports, largest 3.25 inches
199damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 6, 1965F4–87 / 3
May 6, 1965F4–0 / 0
May 6, 1965F2–100 / 0
Jun 30, 1983F1–0 / 0
Jun 30, 1983F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 6, 1965Tornado–$25M
May 6, 1965Tornado–$25M
May 6, 1965Tornado–$25M
Jun 11, 2001HailWaconia$15M
May 30, 1998Thunderstorm WindChaska$9M
Jun 18, 2014FloodChanhassen$9M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 15, 2025. 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 Carver County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (88 policies)
21%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$214,860paid on 70 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $60,994 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 Carver County

$453,600median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1996median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
25%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.1%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; 42,270 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
Scott CountyLow14
Wright CountyLow15
McLeod CountyLow16
Sibley CountyVery Low19

Cities in Carver County

Common questions about Carver County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Carver County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Carver County, about $18 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $7.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Carver County had?

Carver County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2024.

Is Carver County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 24th 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 Carver County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Carver 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 Carver County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Carver County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 6, 1965. The weather service has also logged 191 hail reports and 24 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.