Home › Minnesota › Le Sueur County

Le Sueur County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
65th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$14Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Le Sueur County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 77% of US counties. It ranks 65th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $490 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 17 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 (88 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.7 million on 87 claims here, including $1.7 million for floods in 2024.

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

Top risks in Le Sueur County

$7.2 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.
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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 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 floodingVery Low34.6
$7M
TornadoLow48.4
$2M
Strong windModerate75.4
$2M
Cold waveLow41.1
$1M
HailLow64.8
$795K
Heat waveLow40.5
$418K
DroughtLow43.8
$165K
Winter weatherLow33.9
$63K
LightningVery Low8.8
$51K
Ice stormVery Low25.3
$42K
EarthquakeVery Low8.0
$14K
WildfireVery Low16.1
$10K
LandslideVery Low55.4
$3K

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 Le Sueur County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood11
Severe Storm3
Drought1
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 21, 2014Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 10, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 13, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2010FloodingEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 1, 1998Tornadoes and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Show all 17
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 15, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 261 storm reports in Le Sueur County since 1952, with 1 death and 58 injuries and about $71.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on August 24, 2006 near Kasota.

26tornadoes
106hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
104damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 24, 2006F3Kasota30 / 1
Mar 29, 1998F3Ottawa0 / 0
Mar 29, 1998F2Cleveland2 / 0
Jun 24, 1952F2–6 / 0
May 21, 1977F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 24, 2006TornadoKasota$24M
Mar 29, 1998TornadoCleveland$20M
May 15, 1998HailNew Prague$20M
Jun 24, 1952Tornado–$3M
Jun 18, 2014FloodKasota$1M
Aug 24, 2006HailNew Prague$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 23, 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 Le Sueur County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (88 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.7 millionpaid on 87 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $1.7 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 Le Sueur County

$316,500median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.9%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; 13,054 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
Scott CountyLow14
Blue Earth CountyLow22
Rice CountyLow12
Nicollet CountyLow20
Waseca CountyVery Low12
Sibley CountyVery Low19

Cities in Le Sueur County

Common questions about Le Sueur County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Le Sueur County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Le Sueur County, about $7.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Le Sueur County had?

Le Sueur County has been included in 17 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 Le Sueur County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 65th 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 Le Sueur County?

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

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Le Sueur County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on August 24, 2006 near Kasota. The weather service has also logged 106 hail reports and 18 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.