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Sherburne County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
26th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$31Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sherburne County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 54% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $31 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $317 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2005 (Hurricane Katrina Evacuation). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (107 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $478,000 on 59 claims here.

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

Top risks in Sherburne County

$17 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow62.5
$17M
TornadoModerate70.4
$4M
Strong windHigh87.8
$3M
Cold waveLow54.0
$2M
HailModerate77.9
$1M
Heat waveLow58.4
$943K
LightningModerate61.0
$605K
DroughtLow61.6
$544K
WildfireLow76.4
$519K
Ice stormLow47.4
$133K
Winter weatherLow51.4
$117K
EarthquakeVery Low6.5
$11K
LandslideVery Low40.9
$1K

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 Sherburne County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm2
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 25, 1997Severe Storms, Tornadoes, High Winds, FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor 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 343 storm reports in Sherburne County since 1966, with 1 death and 13 injuries and about $33.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 22, 1967.

13tornadoes
181hail reports, largest 4 inches
135damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 22, 1967F2–12 / 1
Mar 6, 2017EF1Orrock0 / 0
Jul 19, 2008EF0Becker0 / 0
Jun 13, 1983F0–0 / 0
Jul 1, 1973F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 21, 2005HailBig Lake$25M
May 15, 1998Thunderstorm WindElk River$3M
Jul 22, 1967Tornado–$3M
Apr 22, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Jul 19, 2008TornadoBecker$300K
Jul 17, 2010Thunderstorm WindBecker$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 23, 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 Sherburne County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (107 policies)
31.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$478,317paid on 59 flood claims since 1978
2022costliest year, with $222,920 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 Sherburne County

$361,400median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1996median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
26%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.3%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; 37,099 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
Anoka CountyModerate11
Stearns CountyModerate11
Wright CountyLow15
Benton CountyLow11
Isanti CountyVery Low8
Mille Lacs CountyVery Low8

Cities in Sherburne County

Common questions about Sherburne County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sherburne County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sherburne County, about $17 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Sherburne County had?

Sherburne County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in September 2005.

Is Sherburne County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 26th 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 Sherburne County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Sherburne 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 Sherburne County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Sherburne County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 22, 1967. The weather service has also logged 181 hail reports and 4 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.