Roseau County, Minnesota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Roseau County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 56% of US counties. It ranks 42nd of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,029 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (23 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Only 44 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.4 million on 279 claims here, including $3.3 million for floods in 2002.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Roseau County
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 60.0 | $10M | ||
| Wildfire | 91.0 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 56.6 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 84.7 | $1M | ||
| Winter weather | 79.4 | $228K | ||
| Tornado | 17.5 | $214K | ||
| Hail | 36.8 | $180K | ||
| Strong wind | 14.4 | $132K | ||
| Ice storm | 51.5 | $103K | ||
| Lightning | 21.1 | $82K | ||
| Heat wave | 15.6 | $44K | ||
| Earthquake | 1.7 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 30.6 | $374 |
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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Roseau County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 24
Minnesota also had 26 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1966
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 444 storm reports in Roseau County since 1966, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $37.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on August 5, 2006 near Warroad.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5, 2006 | F3 | Warroad | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 27, 1997 | F2 | Greenbush | 1 / 0 |
| Jul 13, 1983 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 19, 2014 | EF1 | Pelan | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 5, 1966 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5, 2006 | Tornado | Warroad | $20M |
| Sep 20, 2019 | Flash Flood | Badger | $10M |
| Apr 1, 2006 | Flood | Countywide | $1M |
| Jul 26, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pelan | $1M |
| Jul 20, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Greenbush | $1M |
| Aug 8, 1993 | Tornado | Roseau | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 10, 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 Roseau County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Roseau County
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; 7,224 housing units.
Compare in Minnesota
All 87 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | Inland flooding | |
| Ramsey County | Inland flooding | |
| Dakota County | Inland flooding | |
| Anoka County | Inland flooding | |
| Washington County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Louis County | Cold wave | |
| Olmsted County | Inland flooding | |
| Stearns County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Beltrami County | 19 | |
| Marshall County | 28 | |
| Kittson County | 28 | |
| Lake of the Woods County | 16 |
Common questions about Roseau County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Roseau County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Roseau County, about $10.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Roseau County had?
Roseau County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 23 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023.
Is Roseau County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 42nd 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 Roseau County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Roseau 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 Roseau County had?
NOAA records list 38 tornadoes in Roseau County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on August 5, 2006 near Warroad. The weather service has also logged 252 hail reports and 18 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.