Scott County, Minnesota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 73.0 | $27M | ||
| Strong wind | 98.8 | $13M | ||
| Tornado | 89.0 | $12M | ||
| Cold wave | 81.3 | $7M | ||
| Heat wave | 81.1 | $3M | ||
| Hail | 88.8 | $3M | ||
| Lightning | 51.4 | $449K | ||
| Ice storm | 55.1 | $196K | ||
| Winter weather | 64.4 | $194K | ||
| Wildfire | 52.0 | $96K | ||
| Drought | 32.8 | $62K | ||
| Earthquake | 9.9 | $18K | ||
| Landslide | 63.6 | $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
Most recent
Show all 14
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 1977 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 11, 2001 | F1 | New Market | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 1995 | F1 | Lydia | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 30, 1999 | F1 | Belle Plaine | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 10, 2012 | EF0 | Blakeley | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Savage | $170M |
| May 30, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Prior Lake | $18M |
| Aug 24, 2006 | Hail | New Prague | $10M |
| Jun 18, 2014 | Flood | Blakeley | $9M |
| Mar 19, 2007 | Flood | Jordan | $900K |
| Sep 4, 2005 | Lightning | Prior 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | 15 | |
| Dakota County | 14 | |
| Carver County | 15 | |
| Rice County | 12 | |
| Le Sueur County | 17 | |
| Sibley County | 19 |
Cities in Scott County
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.