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Rock County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
77th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$7Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Rock County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 91% of US counties. It ranks 77th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hail. FEMA estimates about $6.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $682 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms and flooding). Only 14 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $162,000 on 29 claims here.

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

Top risks in Rock County

$2.6 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 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.

Hail

Moderate
$995,996 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low15.1
$3M
TornadoLow36.2
$1M
HailModerate74.7
$996K
Cold waveLow37.8
$865K
DroughtLow56.9
$332K
Strong windLow22.0
$290K
Winter weatherModerate65.8
$160K
Ice stormLow55.0
$153K
Heat waveVery Low22.2
$107K
EarthquakeVery Low7.0
$10K
LightningVery Low1.4
$7K
WildfireVery Low7.5
$3K
LandslideVery Low19.1
$154

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 Rock County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm6
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 28, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 9, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 7, 1997Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Show all 14
Jun 11, 1993Severe 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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 356 storm reports in Rock County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $18.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 25, 1969.

15tornadoes
138hail reports, largest 4 inches
131damaging thunderstorm winds
65floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 25, 1969F2–5 / 0
Jun 29, 1956F2–0 / 0
Jul 3, 1957F1–2 / 0
May 9, 2004F1Luverne0 / 0
Jul 30, 1968F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2019FloodBruce$7M
Jun 14, 2014Flash FloodLuverne$3M
Aug 3, 2004Thunderstorm WindLuverne$2M
Jun 21, 2024FloodBruce$2M
Sep 12, 2019FloodBruce$2M
Apr 13, 2018Thunderstorm WindMagnolia$728K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 25, 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 Rock County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (14 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$162,111paid on 29 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $92,491 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 Rock County

$224,300median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1960median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.3%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; 4,256 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
Nobles CountyLow19
Lyon County, IAVery Low14
Pipestone CountyVery Low12
Murray CountyVery Low15
Moody County, SDVery Low19

Common questions about Rock County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Rock County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Rock County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1 million.

How many federal disasters has Rock County had?

Rock County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2024.

Is Rock County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 77th 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 Rock County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Rock 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 Rock County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Rock County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 25, 1969. The weather service has also logged 138 hail reports and 65 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.