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Mahnomen County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
79th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$2Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Mahnomen County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 79th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and drought. FEMA estimates about $2.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $435 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Only 2 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $150,000 on 10 claims here.

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

Top risks in Mahnomen County

$910,775 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.
$541,816 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 19 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Drought

Moderate
$252,170 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low11.5
$911K
Cold waveLow48.1
$542K
DroughtModerate65.9
$252K
TornadoVery Low22.9
$190K
Strong windLow27.2
$161K
HailLow48.2
$149K
Winter weatherLow54.7
$47K
WildfireVery Low58.3
$47K
LightningVery Low16.0
$34K
Heat waveVery Low11.6
$14K
EarthquakeVery Low2.5
$1K
LandslideVery Low54.6
$1K
Ice stormVery Low2.5
$606

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 high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Mahnomen County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood8
Severe Storm8
Drought1
Hurricane1

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
Apr 9, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 14, 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 27, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1995Severe Thunderstorms, Winds, Flooding, Tornadoes, and HeatMajor disaster
Show all 18
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 8, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jul 17, 1975Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Heavy 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 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 215 storm reports in Mahnomen County since 1958 and about $3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on July 22, 2013 near Mahnomen.

24tornadoes
102hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
72damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 22, 2013EF2Mahnomen0 / 0
Jul 11, 2008EF2Beaulieu0 / 0
Jun 24, 2023EF2Waubun0 / 0
Jul 5, 1978F2–0 / 0
Jun 11, 1966F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 22, 2013TornadoMahnomen$2M
Jul 11, 2008TornadoBeaulieu$600K
Aug 26, 2007LightningBejou$500K
May 17, 1996Thunderstorm WindMahnomen$100K
Jun 24, 2023TornadoWaubun$56K
Jun 9, 2002Thunderstorm WindMahnomen$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 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 Mahnomen County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$149,607paid on 10 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $95,198 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 Mahnomen County

$161,900median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.8%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; 2,547 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
Becker CountyVery Low17
Polk CountyLow29
Clearwater CountyVery Low14
Norman CountyVery Low30

Common questions about Mahnomen County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mahnomen County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mahnomen County, about $910,775 a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $541,816.

How many federal disasters has Mahnomen County had?

Mahnomen County has been included in 18 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 Mahnomen County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 79th 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 Mahnomen County?

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

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Mahnomen County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on July 22, 2013 near Mahnomen. The weather service has also logged 102 hail reports and 16 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.