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Pipestone County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
72nd of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$8Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Pipestone County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 85% of US counties. It ranks 72nd of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $824 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms and flooding). Only 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $357,000 on 17 claims here.

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

Top risks in Pipestone County

$2.9 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.
$1.3 million 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.
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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 Low18.5
$3M
Cold waveLow51.0
$1M
TornadoLow38.5
$1M
HailLow71.1
$765K
DroughtModerate67.3
$580K
Strong windLow33.7
$435K
Heat waveLow41.1
$317K
Winter weatherModerate74.9
$216K
Ice stormLow53.5
$129K
EarthquakeVery Low11.3
$15K
LightningVery Low2.8
$13K
WildfireVery Low19.1
$9K
LandslideVery Low15.2
$85

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 very low 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 Pipestone County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood5
Severe Storm5
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
Jul 28, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 13, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 7, 1997Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 337 storm reports in Pipestone County since 1955 and about $29.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 20, 1985.

15tornadoes
139hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
89damaging thunderstorm winds
87floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 20, 1985F3–0 / 0
May 7, 1993F2–0 / 0
Jun 25, 1969F2–0 / 0
Jun 16, 1979F1–0 / 0
Jul 1, 2011EF1Ruthton0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2019FloodIhlen$13M
Jun 22, 1997HailPipestone$5M
May 7, 1993Tornado–$5M
Apr 20, 1985Tornado–$3M
Mar 13, 2019FloodIhlen$769K
Jul 12, 2004HailPipestone$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 2, 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 Pipestone County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$357,394paid on 17 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $136,880 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 Pipestone County

$140,200median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1956median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
80%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.1%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; 4,325 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
Minnehaha County, SDModerate15
Brookings County, SDLow19
Lyon CountyLow16
Rock CountyVery Low14
Murray CountyVery Low15
Moody County, SDVery Low19
Lincoln CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Pipestone County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Pipestone County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Pipestone County, about $2.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Pipestone County had?

Pipestone County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2024.

Is Pipestone County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 72nd 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 Pipestone County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Pipestone 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 Pipestone County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Pipestone County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 20, 1985. The weather service has also logged 139 hail reports and 87 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.