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Morrison County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
21st of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$30Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Morrison County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $30 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $871 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Only 49 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $613,000 on 50 claims here.

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

Top risks in Morrison County

$22.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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 13 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate80.2
$23M
Cold waveLow59.5
$2M
TornadoLow49.2
$1M
LightningHigh88.5
$1M
Strong windModerate68.0
$1M
HailModerate76.3
$826K
WildfireLow78.0
$383K
DroughtLow59.1
$305K
Heat waveVery Low36.5
$220K
Ice stormLow38.9
$57K
Winter weatherLow27.8
$30K
EarthquakeVery Low7.1
$8K
LandslideVery Low60.2
$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 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 Morrison County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 19, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 8, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 25, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 20, 2000Mn - Carlos Edge Fire Complex - 10/19/2000Fire management
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Aug 1, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
Mar 22, 1966FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 373 storm reports in Morrison County since 1954, with 1 death and 26 injuries and about $17.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 18, 1997 near Lastrup.

30tornadoes
173hail reports, largest 3 inches
147damaging thunderstorm winds
14floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 18, 1997F3Lastrup1 / 1
Jun 13, 2001F2Flensburg0 / 0
Jun 30, 1961F2–0 / 0
Mar 25, 1981F2–0 / 0
Sep 18, 1997F2Royalton0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 19, 2003HailRandall$6M
Apr 7, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Sep 18, 1997TornadoLastrup$2M
Jun 23, 2022Flash FloodRandall$2M
Apr 22, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Sep 7, 2016TornadoDarling$1M

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 Morrison County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (49 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$613,364paid on 50 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $216,678 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 Morrison County

$248,500median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.5%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; 16,256 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
Stearns CountyModerate11
Crow Wing CountyLow11
Benton CountyLow11
Cass CountyLow12
Mille Lacs CountyVery Low8
Todd CountyVery Low11

Common questions about Morrison County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Morrison County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Morrison County, about $22.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Morrison County had?

Morrison County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023.

Is Morrison County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 21st 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 Morrison County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Morrison 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 Morrison County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Morrison County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 18, 1997 near Lastrup. The weather service has also logged 173 hail reports and 14 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.