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Swift County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
60th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$8Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Swift County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 60th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $8.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $813 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Only 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $144,000 on 12 claims here.

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

Top risks in Swift County

$4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 13 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$589,444 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow36.4
$4M
Cold waveLow64.3
$2M
Heat waveLow61.8
$589K
HailLow66.8
$460K
TornadoLow28.6
$435K
Strong windLow43.3
$426K
DroughtLow56.8
$215K
Winter weatherModerate68.5
$116K
Ice stormLow41.2
$53K
LightningVery Low12.6
$41K
WildfireVery Low46.3
$35K
EarthquakeVery Low8.8
$8K
LandslideVery Low26.5
$214

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 moderate 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 Swift County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood8
Severe Storm6
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 19, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 9, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 8, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 25, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2010FloodingEmergency
Apr 9, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 17
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1996High Winds, Freezing Rain, Heavy SnowfallMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe 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 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 263 storm reports in Swift County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries and about $17.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 11, 2001 near Benson.

51tornadoes
97hail reports, largest 3 inches
109damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 11, 2001F2Benson7 / 0
Jun 23, 1952F2–0 / 0
Jul 14, 2009EF2Swift Falls0 / 0
Aug 15, 1954F2–0 / 0
Jun 16, 1992F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 11, 2001TornadoBenson$10M
Jun 23, 1952Tornado–$3M
Sep 19, 2017TornadoMurdock$2M
Sep 19, 2017TornadoSwift Falls$800K
Jul 1, 1997Thunderstorm WindBenson$500K
Apr 7, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$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 Swift County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
3.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$143,998paid on 12 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $105,156 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 Swift County

$161,400median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1958median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.7%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; 4,706 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
Kandiyohi CountyLow14
Chippewa CountyVery Low19
Pope CountyVery Low14
Stevens CountyVery Low17
Lac qui Parle CountyVery Low19
Big Stone CountyVery Low18

Common questions about Swift County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Swift County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Swift County, about $4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Swift County had?

Swift County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023.

Is Swift County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 60th 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 Swift County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Swift 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 Swift County had?

NOAA records list 51 tornadoes in Swift County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 11, 2001 near Benson. The weather service has also logged 97 hail reports and 6 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.