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Pine County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
22nd of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$22Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pine County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $747 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (106 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.4 million on 60 claims here, including $653,000 for floods in 2016.

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

Top risks in Pine County

$12.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.3 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow69.3
$12M
Cold waveModerate88.8
$6M
TornadoLow52.0
$1M
HailModerate77.2
$721K
LightningModerate72.1
$510K
Strong windLow40.3
$399K
Heat waveLow44.5
$271K
WildfireLow65.8
$120K
Ice stormLow47.5
$73K
DroughtLow40.2
$63K
Winter weatherLow32.3
$31K
EarthquakeVery Low3.0
$3K
LandslideVery Low12.1
$37

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 19, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 9, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 6, 2012Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 28, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor 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
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Aug 25, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
Aug 1, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor 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 378 storm reports in Pine County since 1956, with 1 death and 3 injuries and about $1.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 17, 2010 near Rock Creek.

13tornadoes
191hail reports, largest 5 inches
150damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 17, 2010EF2Rock Creek2 / 0
Jul 7, 1970F2–0 / 0
Jun 11, 2005F1Hinckley0 / 0
May 30, 2022EF1Hinckley0 / 0
Jul 11, 2022EF1Nickerson0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 1, 2011Thunderstorm WindPine City$500K
Jun 17, 2010TornadoRock Creek$283K
Aug 9, 2005Thunderstorm WindSturgeon Lake$200K
Jul 7, 1970Tornado–$25K
Jul 5, 1986Tornado–$25K
May 30, 2022Thunderstorm WindPokegama$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Pine County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (106 policies)
11.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.4 millionpaid on 60 flood claims since 1978
2016costliest year, with $653,444 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 Pine County

$239,300median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.5%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; 17,284 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
Chisago CountyLow10
Douglas County, WILow8
Isanti CountyVery Low8
Carlton CountyLow8
Burnett County, WILow8
Kanabec CountyVery Low9
Aitkin CountyLow19

Common questions about Pine County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pine County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pine County, about $12.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $6 million.

How many federal disasters has Pine County had?

Pine County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023.

Is Pine County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 22nd 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 Pine County?

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

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Pine County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 17, 2010 near Rock Creek. The weather service has also logged 191 hail reports and 21 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.