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Marshall County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
63rd of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$9Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Marshall County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 63rd of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and drought. FEMA estimates about $9.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,023 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Only 23 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.8 million on 1,405 claims here, including $3.1 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 Marshall County

$3.9 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.
$1.8 million 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.

Drought

Moderate
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 14 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low29.2
$4M
Cold waveLow63.3
$2M
DroughtModerate87.1
$2M
WildfireLow85.1
$795K
HailLow55.2
$368K
TornadoVery Low19.1
$250K
Strong windLow19.9
$203K
Winter weatherModerate70.1
$148K
Ice stormLow51.0
$101K
LightningVery Low9.5
$37K
Heat waveVery Low12.5
$30K
EarthquakeVery Low1.5
$2K
LandslideVery Low29.2
$330

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 Marshall County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood19
Severe Storm6
Drought1
Severe Ice Storm1
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
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
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
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
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
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 444 storm reports in Marshall County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $4.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 14, 1999 near Oslo.

36tornadoes
210hail reports, largest 3 inches
163damaging thunderstorm winds
33floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 14, 1999F2Oslo0 / 0
Jul 17, 2020EF1Argyle0 / 0
Jun 27, 1976F1–4 / 0
Sep 9, 1964F1–0 / 0
Aug 8, 2004F1Holt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 1, 2006FloodCountywide$2M
May 5, 2000Thunderstorm WindMiddle River$500K
Jul 17, 2020TornadoArgyle$355K
Aug 14, 2008Thunderstorm WindStephen$305K
Jul 20, 2011Thunderstorm WindStrandquist$290K
Jul 4, 2020Flash FloodStephen Arpt$275K

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 Marshall County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (23 policies)
8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.8 millionpaid on 1,405 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $3.1 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 Marshall County

$164,500median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1971median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.6%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; 4,396 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
Grand Forks County, NDLow36
Beltrami CountyLow19
Polk CountyLow29
Roseau CountyLow24
Pennington CountyLow18
Walsh County, NDVery Low39
Pembina County, NDVery Low36
Kittson CountyVery Low28

Common questions about Marshall County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Marshall County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Marshall County, about $3.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Marshall County had?

Marshall County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023.

Is Marshall County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 63rd 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 Marshall County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Marshall 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 Marshall County had?

NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Marshall County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 14, 1999 near Oslo. The weather service has also logged 210 hail reports and 33 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.