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Scott County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
12th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$66Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Scott County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 77% of US counties. It ranks 12th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $66 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $441 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 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 (117 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 117 claims here.

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

Top risks in Scott County

$27.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Strong wind

Very High
$12.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Tornado

Moderate
$12.2 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 floodingModerate73.0
$27M
Strong windVery High98.8
$13M
TornadoModerate89.0
$12M
Cold waveModerate81.3
$7M
Heat waveModerate81.1
$3M
HailModerate88.8
$3M
LightningLow51.4
$449K
Ice stormLow55.1
$196K
Winter weatherModerate64.4
$194K
WildfireVery Low52.0
$96K
DroughtLow32.8
$62K
EarthquakeVery Low9.9
$18K
LandslideLow63.6
$6K

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Scott County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood9
Severe Storm2
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 23, 1998Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
Aug 6, 1987Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor 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 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 493 storm reports in Scott County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $211 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 21, 1977.

20tornadoes
232hail reports, largest 4.25 inches
188damaging thunderstorm winds
25floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 21, 1977F2–0 / 0
Jun 11, 2001F1New Market0 / 0
Jul 21, 1995F1Lydia0 / 0
Jul 30, 1999F1Belle Plaine0 / 0
Jun 10, 2012EF0Blakeley0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 15, 1998Thunderstorm WindSavage$170M
May 30, 1998Thunderstorm WindPrior Lake$18M
Aug 24, 2006HailNew Prague$10M
Jun 18, 2014FloodBlakeley$9M
Mar 19, 2007FloodJordan$900K
Sep 4, 2005LightningPrior Lake$604K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 2025. 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 Scott County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (117 policies)
19.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 117 flood claims since 1978
2014costliest year, with $310,978 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 Scott County

$419,400median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1997median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
23%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.4%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; 56,671 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
Carver CountyLow15
Rice CountyLow12
Le Sueur CountyVery Low17
Sibley CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Scott County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Scott County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Scott County, about $27.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $12.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Scott County had?

Scott County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in June 2019.

Is Scott County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 12th 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 Scott County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Scott 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 Scott County had?

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Scott County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 21, 1977. The weather service has also logged 232 hail reports and 25 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.