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Roseau County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
42nd of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$16Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$10.2 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 95 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 21 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow60.0
$10M
WildfireModerate91.0
$2M
Cold waveLow56.6
$1M
DroughtModerate84.7
$1M
Winter weatherModerate79.4
$228K
TornadoVery Low17.5
$214K
HailLow36.8
$180K
Strong windVery Low14.4
$132K
Ice stormLow51.5
$103K
LightningVery Low21.1
$82K
Heat waveVery Low15.6
$44K
EarthquakeVery Low1.7
$2K
LandslideVery Low30.6
$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

Flood16
Severe Storm6
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 19, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
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 9, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 5, 2006FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 14, 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 24
Jun 27, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 26, 1999Severe Ice Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jun 1, 1996Flooding and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 17, 1975Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1974Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1970Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1966FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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.

38tornadoes
252hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
133damaging thunderstorm winds
18floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 5, 2006F3Warroad0 / 0
Jun 27, 1997F2Greenbush1 / 0
Jul 13, 1983F2–0 / 0
Sep 19, 2014EF1Pelan0 / 0
Aug 5, 1966F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 5, 2006TornadoWarroad$20M
Sep 20, 2019Flash FloodBadger$10M
Apr 1, 2006FloodCountywide$1M
Jul 26, 2010Thunderstorm WindPelan$1M
Jul 20, 2011Thunderstorm WindGreenbush$1M
Aug 8, 1993TornadoRoseau$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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (44 policies)
6.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.4 millionpaid on 279 flood claims since 1978
2002costliest year, with $3.3 million 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 Roseau County

$183,700median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
48%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; 7,224 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
Beltrami CountyLow19
Marshall CountyVery Low28
Kittson CountyVery Low28
Lake of the Woods CountyVery Low16

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.