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Cass County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
27th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$14Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$7.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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
$3.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 16 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$762,088 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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 floodingLow63.2
$8M
Cold waveModerate84.0
$4M
TornadoLow42.9
$762K
Strong windModerate61.5
$603K
Heat waveLow51.3
$313K
LightningLow54.0
$213K
Winter weatherModerate78.2
$150K
HailVery Low33.6
$108K
DroughtLow46.2
$88K
WildfireVery Low63.2
$83K
Ice stormVery Low22.8
$16K
LandslideLow80.6
$13K
EarthquakeVery Low5.2
$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

Flood5
Severe Storm5
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 28, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 9, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 8, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 6, 2012Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 28, 1999Severe Storms, Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1995Severe Thunderstorms, Winds, Flooding, Tornadoes, and HeatMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Show all 12
Mar 22, 1966FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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.

28tornadoes
267hail reports, largest 3 inches
268damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 6, 1969F4–70 / 12
Aug 6, 1969F3–4 / 0
Aug 26, 1977F3–0 / 0
Jul 5, 1991F3–0 / 0
Aug 26, 1977F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 6, 1969Tornado–$3M
Aug 6, 1969Tornado–$3M
Aug 26, 1977Tornado–$3M
Aug 2, 1981Tornado–$3M
Jun 20, 2012FloodLongville$300K
Jul 28, 2015LightningChickamaw 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 ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (8 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$65,401paid on 12 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $45,015 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 Cass County

$288,300median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
36%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.3%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; 24,470 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
Crow Wing CountyLow11
Beltrami CountyLow19
Itasca CountyLow13
Morrison CountyLow12
Todd CountyVery Low11
Hubbard CountyVery Low8
Aitkin CountyLow19
Wadena CountyVery Low13

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.