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Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
70th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$7Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 70th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $7.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,047 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Only 4 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $224,000 on 45 claims here.

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

Top risks in Lac qui Parle County

$3 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 12 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$578,296 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low25.6
$3M
Cold waveLow63.7
$2M
Heat waveLow60.0
$578K
TornadoLow30.0
$515K
HailLow62.9
$422K
Strong windLow35.7
$358K
DroughtLow59.1
$270K
Winter weatherModerate63.1
$101K
Ice stormLow53.2
$98K
WildfireVery Low29.7
$14K
LightningVery Low3.5
$12K
EarthquakeVery Low7.6
$7K
LandslideVery Low27.8
$256

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 Lac qui Parle County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood10
Severe Storm7
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 19, 2023Severe 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
Jun 12, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2014Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 10, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2010FloodingEmergency
Apr 9, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 19
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 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor 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 287 storm reports in Lac qui Parle County since 1959, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $4.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 21, 1981.

16tornadoes
144hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
114damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 21, 1981F1–0 / 0
Jun 25, 2002F1Boyd0 / 0
Jul 1, 1970F1–0 / 0
Jun 14, 1967F1–0 / 0
May 12, 2022EF1Madison0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Oct 8, 1997Thunderstorm WindHaydenville$1M
Mar 17, 2010FloodBoyd$515K
Mar 14, 2007FloodDawson$425K
Jul 1, 1997Thunderstorm WindMadison$400K
Mar 17, 2019FloodRosen$300K
Apr 11, 2023FloodRosen$260K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 10, 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 Lac qui Parle County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
9.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$224,358paid on 45 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $183,087 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 Lac qui Parle County

$157,600median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1951median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
80%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.4%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; 3,469 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
Chippewa CountyVery Low19
Swift CountyVery Low17
Yellow Medicine CountyVery Low22
Grant County, SDVery Low20
Big Stone CountyVery Low18
Deuel County, SDVery Low22

Common questions about Lac qui Parle County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lac qui Parle County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lac qui Parle County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Lac qui Parle County had?

Lac qui Parle County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023.

Is Lac qui Parle County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 70th 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 Lac qui Parle County?

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

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Lac qui Parle County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 21, 1981. The weather service has also logged 144 hail reports and 9 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.