Lake County, Minnesota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Lake County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 52nd of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $990 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms and flooding). Only 8 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Lake County
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 82.6 | $4M | ||
| Inland flooding | 29.8 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 89.4 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 70.5 | $502K | ||
| Winter weather | 83.2 | $242K | ||
| Wildfire | 62.3 | $98K | ||
| Tornado | 10.7 | $74K | ||
| Hail | 20.6 | $72K | ||
| Heat wave | 22.0 | $72K | ||
| Ice storm | 23.7 | $22K | ||
| Drought | 18.5 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 34.9 | $449 | ||
| Coastal flooding | 13.6 | $0 |
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 moderate 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 Lake County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Minnesota also had 26 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1975
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 161 storm reports in Lake County since 1975, with 4 deaths and 6 injuries and about $2.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on April 14, 1976.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14, 1976 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1976 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 5, 1987 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 7, 1988 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 6, 2017 | EF1 | Forest Center | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 19, 2012 | Flash Flood | Knife River | $2M |
| Jul 6, 2013 | Lightning | Finland | $250K |
| Jun 19, 2012 | Flash Flood | Higen City | $191K |
| Jul 19, 2003 | Hail | Isabella | $100K |
| Jun 18, 2024 | Flood | Isabella | $30K |
| Apr 14, 1976 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Lake County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Lake County
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; 7,449 housing units.
Compare in Minnesota
All 87 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | Inland flooding | |
| Ramsey County | Inland flooding | |
| Dakota County | Inland flooding | |
| Anoka County | Inland flooding | |
| Washington County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Louis County | Cold wave | |
| Olmsted County | Inland flooding | |
| Stearns County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | 15 | |
| Douglas County, WI | 8 | |
| Bayfield County, WI | 10 | |
| Ashland County, WI | 12 | |
| Cook County | 8 |
Common questions about Lake County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Lake County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Lake County, about $4.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Lake County had?
Lake County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2024.
Is Lake County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 52nd 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 Lake County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Lake 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 Lake County had?
NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Lake County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on April 14, 1976. The weather service has also logged 62 hail reports and 17 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.