Cass County, Minnesota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Cass County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 54% of US counties. It ranks 27th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $463 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms and flooding). Only 8 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $65,000 on 12 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Cass 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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 | 63.2 | $8M | ||
| Cold wave | 84.0 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 42.9 | $762K | ||
| Strong wind | 61.5 | $603K | ||
| Heat wave | 51.3 | $313K | ||
| Lightning | 54.0 | $213K | ||
| Winter weather | 78.2 | $150K | ||
| Hail | 33.6 | $108K | ||
| Drought | 46.2 | $88K | ||
| Wildfire | 63.2 | $83K | ||
| Ice storm | 22.8 | $16K | ||
| Landslide | 80.6 | $13K | ||
| Earthquake | 5.2 | $4K |
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 high and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Cass County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 12
Minnesota also had 26 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1959
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 572 storm reports in Cass County since 1959, with 14 deaths and 79 injuries and about $10.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on August 6, 1969.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 1969 | F4 | – | 70 / 12 |
| Aug 6, 1969 | F3 | – | 4 / 0 |
| Aug 26, 1977 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 5, 1991 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 26, 1977 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 1969 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 6, 1969 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 26, 1977 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Aug 2, 1981 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 20, 2012 | Flood | Longville | $300K |
| Jul 28, 2015 | Lightning | Chickamaw Beach | $155K |
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 Cass 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 Cass 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; 24,470 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Crow Wing County | 11 | |
| Beltrami County | 19 | |
| Itasca County | 13 | |
| Morrison County | 12 | |
| Todd County | 11 | |
| Hubbard County | 8 | |
| Aitkin County | 19 | |
| Wadena County | 13 |
Common questions about Cass County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Cass County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cass County, about $7.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $3.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Cass County had?
Cass County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2024.
Is Cass County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 27th 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 Cass 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 Cass County had?
NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Cass County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on August 6, 1969. The weather service has also logged 267 hail reports and 4 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.