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Todd County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
46th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$11Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Todd County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 46th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $423 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2022 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 33 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $127,000 on 13 claims here.

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

Top risks in Todd County

$7.3 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.
$787,441 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 14 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$782,032 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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 floodingLow56.2
$7M
Cold waveLow47.8
$787K
TornadoLow39.9
$782K
Strong windModerate61.7
$696K
HailLow58.6
$328K
LightningLow55.7
$259K
WildfireLow71.6
$178K
Heat waveVery Low36.7
$178K
DroughtLow51.2
$143K
Ice stormLow36.5
$40K
Winter weatherLow32.9
$31K
EarthquakeVery Low7.0
$6K
LandslideVery Low60.0
$2K

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 Todd County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 9, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 8, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2014Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Aug 1, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1966FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 11
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

Minnesota also had 26 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 285 storm reports in Todd County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 13, 2001 near Bertha.

25tornadoes
146hail reports, largest 3 inches
102damaging thunderstorm winds
10floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 13, 2001F3Bertha0 / 0
Jul 8, 2000F2Staples1 / 0
Jul 12, 2015EF1Hewitt0 / 0
May 21, 1957F1–0 / 0
Aug 14, 2020EF1Philbrook0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 12, 2015TornadoHewitt$500K
Jun 3, 2024Flash FloodBrowerville$400K
Apr 7, 2001Flash FloodCountywide$200K
Jun 17, 2018Thunderstorm WindPillsbury$150K
Jun 13, 2001Flash FloodLong Prairie$100K
Jul 17, 2010Thunderstorm WindStaples Muni$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 Todd County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (33 policies)
7.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$126,636paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $60,840 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 Todd County

$207,700median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.8%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; 13,008 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
Stearns CountyModerate11
Otter Tail CountyLow15
Douglas CountyLow12
Morrison CountyLow12
Cass CountyLow12
Wadena CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Todd County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Todd County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Todd County, about $7.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $787,441.

How many federal disasters has Todd County had?

Todd County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2022.

Is Todd County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 46th 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 Todd County?

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

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Todd County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 13, 2001 near Bertha. The weather service has also logged 146 hail reports and 10 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.