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Wright County, Minnesota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
18th of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$51Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Wright County, Minnesota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 68% of US counties. It ranks 18th of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $51 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $362 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2014 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (124 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.0 million on 223 claims here.

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

Top risks in Wright County

$29.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$7.6 million 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.
$5.8 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 floodingModerate74.7
$30M
TornadoModerate80.4
$8M
Strong windHigh95.0
$6M
HailModerate89.4
$3M
Heat waveLow71.5
$2M
Cold waveLow47.3
$2M
LightningModerate62.9
$698K
Winter weatherModerate72.3
$269K
Ice stormLow59.8
$250K
WildfireVery Low61.0
$169K
DroughtLow32.2
$60K
EarthquakeVery Low14.9
$30K
LandslideVery Low58.6
$5K

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 Wright County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood8
Severe Storm5
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 21, 2014Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
May 10, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2010FloodingEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 14, 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Aug 25, 1997Severe Storms, Tornadoes, High Winds, FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jun 26, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 1966FloodingMajor disaster
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 672 storm reports in Wright County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 14 injuries and about $86.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 16, 1992.

27tornadoes
332hail reports, largest 4 inches
272damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 16, 1992F3–8 / 0
Jul 1, 1997F3Howard Lake0 / 0
Jun 14, 1981F2–0 / 0
Jun 16, 1992F2–0 / 0
Jul 1, 1997F2Monticello0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 24, 2002Flash FloodCountywide$25M
Sep 21, 2005HailOtsego$25M
Jul 1, 1997Thunderstorm WindMonticello$20M
Aug 24, 2006HailSt Michael$5M
Sep 6, 2002Flash FloodCountywide$2M
May 15, 1998Thunderstorm WindSt Michael$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 19, 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 Wright County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (124 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2 millionpaid on 223 flood claims since 1978
1984costliest year, with $578,033 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 Wright County

$358,900median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1995median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
32%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
3.4%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; 57,416 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
Hennepin CountyHigh15
Stearns CountyModerate11
Carver CountyLow15
Sherburne CountyLow8
McLeod CountyLow16
Meeker CountyVery Low9

Common questions about Wright County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Wright County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Wright County, about $29.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $7.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Wright County had?

Wright County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in July 2014.

Is Wright County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 18th 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 Wright County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Wright 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 Wright County had?

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Wright County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 16, 1992. The weather service has also logged 332 hail reports and 17 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.