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Douglas County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
41st of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$16Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Douglas County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $417 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 August 2022 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 11 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $281,000 on 16 claims here.

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

Top risks in Douglas County

$7.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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
$4.1 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.
$2.2 million 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 floodingLow48.2
$7M
Cold waveModerate79.6
$4M
TornadoLow62.5
$2M
Strong windModerate73.1
$1M
Winter weatherHigh91.8
$533K
HailLow47.7
$277K
Heat waveVery Low38.2
$242K
LightningLow42.2
$203K
Ice stormLow43.2
$72K
WildfireVery Low50.3
$56K
DroughtLow33.5
$42K
EarthquakeVery Low13.8
$16K
LandslideLow67.0
$5K

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 Douglas County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Severe Storm5
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 9, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 8, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 25, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 9, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Aug 1, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

Minnesota also had 26 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 371 storm reports in Douglas County since 1955, with 1 death and 13 injuries and about $5.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 18, 1970.

26tornadoes
159hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
176damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 18, 1970F2–5 / 0
Jun 1, 1990F2–0 / 0
May 5, 1965F2–0 / 0
May 5, 1965F2–0 / 0
Oct 26, 1996F2Alexandria4 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 18, 1970Tornado–$3M
Jun 23, 2003HailBrandon$2M
Jun 1, 1990Tornado–$250K
Apr 7, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$200K
Jul 10, 2011Thunderstorm WindKensington$150K
Jul 15, 2011Flash FloodHolmes City$100K

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 Douglas County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (11 policies)
6.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$281,302paid on 16 flood claims since 1978
2012costliest year, with $120,000 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 Douglas County

$321,400median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4%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; 22,332 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
Stearns CountyModerate11
Otter Tail CountyLow15
Todd CountyVery Low11
Pope CountyVery Low14
Stevens CountyVery Low17
Grant CountyVery Low17

Common questions about Douglas County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Douglas County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Douglas County, about $7.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $4.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Douglas County had?

Douglas 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, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2022.

Is Douglas County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 41st 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 Douglas County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Douglas 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 Douglas County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Douglas County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 18, 1970. The weather service has also logged 159 hail reports and 6 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.