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Crow Wing County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
10th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$39Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Crow Wing County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 78% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $39 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $598 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2022 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (88 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $72,000 on 13 claims here.

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

Top risks in Crow Wing County

$25.6 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.
$8.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 14 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.9 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate84.2
$26M
Cold waveHigh91.4
$8M
TornadoLow61.3
$2M
Strong windModerate76.7
$1M
HailModerate73.5
$688K
LightningModerate71.8
$555K
Heat waveLow56.8
$531K
WildfireLow76.1
$303K
Winter weatherLow58.7
$91K
DroughtLow42.6
$89K
Ice stormLow49.7
$87K
EarthquakeVery Low10.9
$11K
LandslideLow66.2
$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 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 Crow Wing County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 9, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 6, 2012Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 1, 2002Mn - By-Pass Fire - 05/31/2002Fire management
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1995Severe Thunderstorms, Winds, Flooding, Tornadoes, and HeatMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Aug 1, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1966FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
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 622 storm reports in Crow Wing County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 21 injuries and about $16.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on August 6, 1969.

28tornadoes
260hail reports, largest 4 inches
303damaging thunderstorm winds
23floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 6, 1969F4–0 / 0
Jun 11, 1966F4–0 / 0
Jun 11, 1966F4–0 / 0
Jun 25, 1973F3–2 / 0
Aug 26, 1977F3–11 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 6, 1969Tornado–$3M
Jun 25, 1973Tornado–$3M
Aug 26, 1977Tornado–$3M
Jul 5, 1991Tornado–$3M
Jul 13, 1997LightningBrainerd$2M
Sep 25, 1998Thunderstorm WindBrainerd$1M

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 Crow Wing County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (88 policies)
10.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$71,715paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $34,280 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 Crow Wing County

$306,800median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
39%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 42,683 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
Morrison CountyLow12
Cass CountyLow12
Mille Lacs CountyVery Low8
Aitkin CountyLow19

Common questions about Crow Wing County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Crow Wing County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Crow Wing County, about $25.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $8.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Crow Wing County had?

Crow Wing County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2022.

Is Crow Wing County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 10th 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 Crow Wing County?

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

NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Crow Wing County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on August 6, 1969. The weather service has also logged 260 hail reports and 23 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.