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Ramsey County, Minnesota

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

Relatively High overall risk
2nd of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$181Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Czbik, CC0

Ramsey County, Minnesota has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 95% of US counties. It ranks 2nd of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $181 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $329 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2019 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (179 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 145 claims here, including $434,000 for floods in 2001.

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

Top risks in Ramsey County

$68.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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

Very High
$43.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$36.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 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 floodingHigh93.8
$69M
Cold waveVery High99.1
$43M
TornadoHigh98.7
$36M
Heat waveHigh98.2
$17M
HailHigh99.0
$12M
Strong windHigh90.8
$2M
LandslideHigh98.5
$980K
LightningModerate73.1
$610K
Winter weatherHigh92.2
$532K
Ice stormModerate65.3
$189K
EarthquakeVery Low28.9
$73K
WildfireVery Low52.6
$60K
DroughtVery Low12.8
$11

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 Ramsey County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood9
Severe Storm5
Drought1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 12, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2014Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 10, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2010FloodingEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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
Aug 25, 1997Severe Storms, Tornadoes, High Winds, FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 17
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 6, 1987Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 8, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 467 storm reports in Ramsey County since 1960, with 5 deaths and 181 injuries and about $264 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 6, 1965.

8tornadoes
252hail reports, largest 3 inches
174damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 6, 1965F4–108 / 0
Jun 14, 1981F3–60 / 1
Apr 26, 1984F3–0 / 0
May 15, 1998F1Roseville0 / 0
Jun 28, 1979F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 15, 1998TornadoRoseville$150M
Jun 14, 1981Tornado–$25M
May 6, 1965Tornado–$25M
Apr 26, 1984Tornado–$25M
Sep 21, 2005Thunderstorm WindCountywide$25M
Sep 21, 2010HailSt Paul$5M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 19, 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 Ramsey County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (179 policies)
5.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 145 flood claims since 1978
2001costliest year, with $434,026 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 Ramsey County

$326,600median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1965median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.2%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; 233,870 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
Hennepin CountyHigh15
Dakota CountyModerate14
Anoka CountyModerate11
Washington CountyModerate15

Common questions about Ramsey County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ramsey County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Ramsey County, about $68.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $43.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Ramsey County had?

Ramsey County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in June 2019.

Is Ramsey County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively High, 2nd 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 Ramsey County?

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

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Ramsey County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 6, 1965. The weather service has also logged 252 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.