Wilkin County, Minnesota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Wilkin County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 95% of US counties. It ranks 82nd of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $4.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $728 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (severe storms and flooding). Only 35 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.4 million on 495 claims here, including $7.2 million for floods in 1997.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Wilkin 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 12.6 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 40.6 | $999K | ||
| Hail | 53.1 | $444K | ||
| Strong wind | 28.0 | $402K | ||
| Tornado | 19.2 | $330K | ||
| Winter weather | 60.9 | $139K | ||
| Heat wave | 11.3 | $33K | ||
| Lightning | 3.3 | $16K | ||
| Wildfire | 19.9 | $11K | ||
| Ice storm | 13.1 | $11K | ||
| Earthquake | 3.1 | $4K | ||
| Landslide | 21.4 | $199 |
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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Wilkin County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 23
Minnesota also had 26 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 353 storm reports in Wilkin County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $4.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on August 7, 2010 near Doran.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 2010 | EF4 | Doran | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 2, 1955 | F3 | – | 3 / 0 |
| May 5, 1964 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 19, 2002 | F2 | Rothsay | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 15, 1950 | F2 | – | 4 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2006 | Flood | Countywide | $552K |
| Jun 13, 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tenney | $500K |
| Jul 10, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tenney | $270K |
| Jul 2, 1955 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 28, 1979 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Jun 14, 2008 | Tornado | Foxhome | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 29, 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 Wilkin 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 Wilkin 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; 2,983 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 27 | |
| Otter Tail County | 15 | |
| Richland County, ND | 35 | |
| Grant County | 17 | |
| Traverse County | 23 |
Common questions about Wilkin County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Wilkin County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wilkin County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $998,956.
How many federal disasters has Wilkin County had?
Wilkin County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023.
Is Wilkin County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 82nd 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 Wilkin County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Wilkin 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 Wilkin County had?
NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Wilkin County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on August 7, 2010 near Doran. The weather service has also logged 126 hail reports and 50 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.