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Murray County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
69th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$7Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Murray County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 80% of US counties. It ranks 69th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $887 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms and flooding). Only 23 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $166,000 on 15 claims here.

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

Top risks in Murray County

$3 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.
$861,578 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 12 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$837,088 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 floodingVery Low25.8
$3M
Cold waveLow47.6
$862K
TornadoLow39.4
$837K
DroughtModerate77.5
$804K
HailModerate75.0
$702K
Strong windLow41.4
$431K
Heat waveLow44.9
$291K
Winter weatherModerate75.6
$172K
Ice stormLow53.4
$99K
LightningVery Low4.0
$14K
EarthquakeVery Low8.9
$9K
WildfireVery Low20.6
$8K
LandslideVery Low39.4
$634

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 moderate 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 Murray County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm6
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 28, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2014Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 3, 2013Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Oct 13, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 7, 1997Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 26, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Aug 5, 1969Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 297 storm reports in Murray County since 1963, with 1 death and 41 injuries and about $84.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on June 16, 1992.

34tornadoes
123hail reports, largest 6 inches
97damaging thunderstorm winds
38floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 16, 1992F5–35 / 1
Jun 13, 1968F5–0 / 0
Jun 16, 1992F4–3 / 0
Apr 20, 1985F3–2 / 0
Jun 16, 1992F3–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 16, 1992Tornado–$25M
Jun 16, 1992Tornado–$25M
Jun 1, 2019FloodFlorence$22M
Jun 13, 1968Tornado–$3M
Apr 20, 1985Tornado–$3M
Jun 21, 2024FloodChandler$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 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 Murray County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (23 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$165,715paid on 15 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $136,882 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 Murray County

$185,400median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1963median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
72%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3%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; 4,401 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
Lyon CountyLow16
Nobles CountyLow19
Redwood CountyVery Low19
Cottonwood CountyVery Low15
Rock CountyVery Low14
Pipestone CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Murray County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Murray County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Murray County, about $3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $861,578.

How many federal disasters has Murray County had?

Murray County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2024.

Is Murray County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 69th 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 Murray County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Murray 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 Murray County had?

NOAA records list 34 tornadoes in Murray County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on June 16, 1992. The weather service has also logged 123 hail reports and 38 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.