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Kittson County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
83rd of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$6Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Kittson County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 95% of US counties. It ranks 83rd of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $5.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,316 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (25 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Only 17 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.8 million on 247 claims here, including $1.1 million for floods in 1997.

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

Top risks in Kittson County

$3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$916,176 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 22 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$454,937 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 70 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low13.5
$3M
Cold waveLow33.9
$916K
WildfireLow74.5
$455K
DroughtLow54.6
$371K
TornadoVery Low13.5
$209K
HailVery Low27.2
$191K
Winter weatherLow45.8
$102K
Ice stormLow40.9
$100K
Strong windVery Low7.2
$93K
LightningVery Low6.5
$38K
Heat waveVery Low5.7
$13K
EarthquakeVery Low0.5
$1K
LandslideVery Low21.6
$247

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 Kittson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood18
Severe Storm7
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Tornado1

Most recent

Jul 19, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 2010Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2010FloodingEmergency
Apr 9, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 26, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
Jun 5, 2006FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 28
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 14, 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 26, 1999Severe Ice Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jun 1, 1996Flooding and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1995Severe Thunderstorms, Winds, Flooding, Tornadoes, and HeatMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 8, 1989FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 22, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 17, 1975Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1970Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1966FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 382 storm reports in Kittson County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries and about $11.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 19, 2004 near Humboldt.

34tornadoes
179hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
131damaging thunderstorm winds
38floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 19, 2004F3Humboldt0 / 0
Sep 19, 2014EF2Northcote0 / 0
Jun 23, 2005F2Orleans0 / 0
Jul 2, 2005F2Orleans0 / 0
Jul 2, 2005F2Humboldt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 9, 1995TornadoHallock$3M
Apr 1, 2006FloodCountywide$1M
May 30, 2010FloodNoyes$1M
Jul 20, 2011Thunderstorm WindKarlstad$800K
Sep 19, 2014TornadoNorthcote$700K
Jun 1, 2010FloodNoyes$600K

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 Kittson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (17 policies)
5.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.8 millionpaid on 247 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $1.1 million 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 Kittson County

$134,800median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1967median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
72%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.5%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; 2,228 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
Roseau CountyLow24
Marshall CountyVery Low28
Pembina County, NDVery Low36

Common questions about Kittson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Kittson County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Kittson County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $916,176.

How many federal disasters has Kittson County had?

Kittson County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 25 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023.

Is Kittson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 83rd 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 Kittson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Kittson 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 Kittson County had?

NOAA records list 34 tornadoes in Kittson County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 19, 2004 near Humboldt. The weather service has also logged 179 hail reports and 38 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.