Waseca County, Minnesota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Waseca 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 61st of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $473 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2024 (severe storms and flooding). Only 10 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Waseca 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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 | 24.4 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 63.5 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 47.1 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 73.0 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 80.0 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 70.5 | $605K | ||
| Winter weather | 57.6 | $90K | ||
| Heat wave | 19.2 | $62K | ||
| Lightning | 9.3 | $33K | ||
| Earthquake | 9.6 | $10K | ||
| Ice storm | 13.3 | $8K | ||
| Wildfire | 15.2 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 36.7 | $555 |
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 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 Waseca County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 12
Minnesota also had 26 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 304 storm reports in Waseca County since 1958, with 6 deaths and 25 injuries and about $84.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 30, 1967.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 1967 | F4 | – | 22 / 6 |
| Apr 30, 1967 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 1967 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 14, 1961 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 1963 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 1967 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Apr 30, 1967 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Apr 30, 1967 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| May 19, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Waseca | $4M |
| Aug 1, 1978 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Sep 23, 2010 | Flood | Waldorf | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 21, 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 Waseca 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 Waseca 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; 7,922 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Earth County | 22 | |
| Rice County | 12 | |
| Steele County | 15 | |
| Freeborn County | 19 | |
| Le Sueur County | 17 | |
| Faribault County | 20 |
Common questions about Waseca County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Waseca County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Waseca County, about $3.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.7 million.
How many federal disasters has Waseca County had?
Waseca County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2024.
Is Waseca County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 61st 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 Waseca County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Waseca 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 Waseca County had?
NOAA records list 28 tornadoes in Waseca County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 30, 1967. The weather service has also logged 114 hail reports and 26 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.