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Mower County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
19th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$27Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Mower 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 19th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and drought. FEMA estimates about $27 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $673 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (75 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $11 million on 733 claims here, including $5.5 million for floods in 2004.

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

Top risks in Mower County

$16.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.3 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.
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 19 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate75.0
$16M
TornadoModerate81.2
$4M
DroughtHigh91.9
$2M
Cold waveLow57.8
$1M
HailModerate85.8
$1M
Strong windModerate74.2
$1M
Heat waveLow41.0
$247K
Winter weatherModerate77.2
$185K
LightningVery Low23.4
$83K
Ice stormLow35.4
$44K
EarthquakeVery Low17.7
$24K
WildfireVery Low18.8
$7K
LandslideVery Low24.7
$193

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 Mower County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Flood4
Drought1
Severe Ice Storm1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 28, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 13, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 7, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 27, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1998Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
Dec 26, 1991Ice StormMajor disaster
Jul 8, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 487 storm reports in Mower County since 1959, with 0 deaths and 14 injuries and about $58.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 11, 2004 near Le Roy.

34tornadoes
156hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
187damaging thunderstorm winds
88floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 11, 2004F3Le Roy0 / 0
Apr 30, 1967F2–0 / 0
Jul 27, 1995F2Adams0 / 0
Jun 7, 1984F2–7 / 0
Jun 17, 2009EF2Ramsey1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 30, 1967Tornado–$25M
Jul 27, 1995TornadoAdams$5M
Jun 27, 1998Thunderstorm WindAustin$3M
Jun 11, 2004TornadoLe Roy$3M
Jun 7, 1984Tornado–$3M
Jun 17, 2009TornadoRamsey$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 8, 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 Mower County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (75 policies)
16.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$11.2 millionpaid on 733 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $5.5 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 Mower County

$185,200median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1958median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.8%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; 17,014 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
Olmsted CountyModerate13
Steele CountyVery Low15
Freeborn CountyLow19
Fillmore CountyLow16
Dodge CountyVery Low14
Mitchell County, IAVery Low18
Howard County, IAVery Low21
Worth County, IAVery Low14

Cities in Mower County

Common questions about Mower County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Mower County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Mower County, about $16.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Mower County had?

Mower County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2024.

Is Mower County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 19th 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 Mower County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Mower 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 Mower County had?

NOAA records list 34 tornadoes in Mower County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 11, 2004 near Le Roy. The weather service has also logged 156 hail reports and 88 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.