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Goodhue County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
44th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$26Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Goodhue County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 57% of US counties. It ranks 44th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $26 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $552 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (78 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.7 million on 209 claims here.

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

Top risks in Goodhue County

$13.9 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
$4.9 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow53.6
$14M
TornadoModerate70.7
$5M
Strong windModerate82.7
$3M
HailModerate80.2
$2M
Cold waveLow47.7
$2M
Heat waveVery Low37.9
$394K
DroughtLow54.0
$375K
LightningLow31.0
$216K
Winter weatherLow50.0
$122K
Ice stormLow28.0
$55K
LandslideLow78.1
$25K
EarthquakeVery Low3.8
$7K
WildfireVery Low9.0
$6K

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 Goodhue County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood8
Severe Storm5
Severe Ice Storm1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 28, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 2, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 6, 2012Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 13, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2010FloodingEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 14, 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1998Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 16
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 26, 1991Ice StormMajor disaster
Jul 8, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 406 storm reports in Goodhue County since 1963, with 4 deaths and 5 injuries and about $21.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on July 27, 1987.

35tornadoes
155hail reports, largest 3.3 inches
171damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 27, 1987F3–0 / 0
May 9, 2001F2Stanton0 / 0
Jul 15, 1969F1–0 / 0
Jun 2, 1990F1–0 / 0
Aug 14, 1997F1Wanamingo0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 24, 2006HailKenyon$5M
May 9, 2001TornadoStanton$4M
Jun 17, 2021HailStanton$3M
Jul 27, 1987Tornado–$3M
Jun 26, 1998Flash FloodCannon Falls$2M
May 15, 1998Thunderstorm WindWhite Rock$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 17, 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 Goodhue County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (78 policies)
17.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.7 millionpaid on 209 flood claims since 1978
2001costliest year, with $688,469 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 Goodhue County

$285,100median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.9%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; 21,167 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
Dakota CountyModerate14
Olmsted CountyModerate13
Rice CountyLow12
Pierce County, WIVery Low11
Wabasha CountyLow15
Dodge CountyVery Low14
Pepin County, WIVery Low11

Common questions about Goodhue County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Goodhue County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Goodhue County, about $13.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Goodhue County had?

Goodhue County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2024.

Is Goodhue County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 44th 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 Goodhue County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Goodhue 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 Goodhue County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Goodhue County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on July 27, 1987. The weather service has also logged 155 hail reports and 22 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.