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Norman County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
73rd of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$6Mexpected losses a year
30federal declarations
1 in 71homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Norman County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 73rd of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and drought. FEMA estimates about $5.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $861 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (26 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Only 45 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.5 million on 247 claims here, including $1.6 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 Norman County

$2 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.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 20 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Drought

Moderate
$712,634 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low17.6
$2M
Cold waveLow60.7
$1M
DroughtModerate76.7
$713K
HailLow70.0
$518K
Strong windLow37.6
$358K
TornadoVery Low23.1
$292K
Winter weatherModerate66.8
$109K
Ice stormLow55.2
$101K
WildfireVery Low47.0
$37K
Heat waveVery Low12.4
$25K
LightningVery Low5.2
$16K
EarthquakeVery Low2.4
$2K
LandslideVery Low27.4
$230

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 relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood18
Severe Storm10
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
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
Jan 4, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 30
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 14, 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 16, 2001Severe Winter 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
Jun 1, 1996Flooding and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 8, 1989FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 6, 1987Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 8, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor 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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 341 storm reports in Norman County since 1956, with 3 deaths and 35 injuries and about $33.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 5, 1978.

30tornadoes
155hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
132damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 5, 1978F2–35 / 3
Jul 11, 2017EF2Halstad0 / 0
Jul 11, 2017EF2Wheatville0 / 0
Aug 28, 2016EF2Flaming0 / 0
Jun 9, 2008EF1Halstad0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 5, 1978Tornado–$25M
Apr 1, 2006FloodCountywide$1M
Jun 14, 2008HailRanum$1M
Jun 19, 2000Flash FloodAda$1M
Jul 11, 2017TornadoHalstad$950K
Jul 11, 2017TornadoWheatville$800K

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 Norman County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (45 policies)
14.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.5 millionpaid on 247 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $1.6 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 Norman County

$147,100median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1959median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
77%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.8%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; 3,223 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
Cass County, NDModerate33
Clay CountyLow27
Becker CountyVery Low17
Polk CountyLow29
Traill County, NDVery Low34
Mahnomen CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Norman County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Norman County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Norman County, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Norman County had?

Norman County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 26 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023.

Is Norman County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 73rd 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 Norman County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Norman 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 Norman County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Norman County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 5, 1978. The weather service has also logged 155 hail reports and 24 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.