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Wabasha County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
36th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$18Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wabasha County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 54% of US counties. It ranks 36th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $820 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (64 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.4 million on 162 claims here, including $2.3 million for floods in 2010.

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

Top risks in Wabasha County

$11.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.
$2.3 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$1.3 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 floodingLow61.1
$11M
TornadoLow61.7
$2M
Strong windModerate74.0
$1M
HailModerate80.2
$1M
Cold waveLow43.2
$899K
Heat waveVery Low33.9
$203K
DroughtLow48.8
$161K
LightningLow24.8
$106K
Ice stormLow33.8
$47K
Winter weatherLow34.8
$44K
LandslideLow81.6
$24K
WildfireVery Low13.5
$6K
EarthquakeVery Low3.6
$4K

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 Wabasha County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood9
Severe Storm4
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 28, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 19, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 13, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 23, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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 1, 1996Flooding and Severe StormsMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 8, 1978Severe Storms, Flooding, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 13, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 11, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1964

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 420 storm reports in Wabasha County since 1964 and about $40 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on August 28, 1964.

18tornadoes
160hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
148damaging thunderstorm winds
78floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 28, 1964F2–0 / 0
May 17, 1982F2–0 / 0
Apr 17, 2026EF2Elgin0 / 0
Jun 25, 2025EF1Zumbro Falls0 / 0
Apr 17, 2026EF1Elgin0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 19, 1996Thunderstorm WindOak Center$12M
Sep 24, 2010FloodZumbro Falls$5M
Sep 23, 2010FloodHammond$5M
Sep 23, 2010FloodPlainview$5M
Sep 23, 2010FloodZumbro Falls$4M
Aug 18, 2007Flash FloodElgin$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 20, 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 Wabasha County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (64 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.4 millionpaid on 162 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $2.3 million 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 Wabasha County

$264,400median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
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; 10,291 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
Olmsted CountyModerate13
Winona CountyLow15
Goodhue CountyLow16
Buffalo County, WIVery Low14
Pepin County, WIVery Low11

Common questions about Wabasha County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wabasha County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wabasha County, about $11.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Wabasha County had?

Wabasha County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2024.

Is Wabasha County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 36th 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 Wabasha County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Wabasha 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 Wabasha County had?

NOAA records list 18 tornadoes in Wabasha County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on August 28, 1964. The weather service has also logged 160 hail reports and 78 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.