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Natural hazard risk in Stevens County, Minnesota

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Very Low (score 7.0 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$6.4 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1969
17[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$7,926[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
18[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Stevens County an overall Risk Index rating of Very Low, with a score of 7.0 out of 100[5]. Within the county, the hazards with the highest FEMA scores are winter weather, hail and cold wave[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $6.4 million a year[1]. By FEMA's sorted values, the largest parts come from inland flooding, cold wave and tornado, in that order[7]. Expected Annual Loss is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, and it does not predict next year's damage[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability as Very Low, with a score of 10.6[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience as Very High, with a score of 94.5[10]. All ratings compare Stevens County with other US counties[8].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$161,000[11]
HailRelatively Low$565,000[12]
Cold WaveRelatively Low$1.8 million[13]
Strong WindRelatively Low$514,000[14]
Heat WaveVery Low$238,000[15]
DroughtVery Low$41,000[16]
TornadoVery Low$614,000[17]
Ice StormVery Low$35,000[18]
LandslideVery Low$249[19]
WildfireVery Low$13,000[20]
Inland FloodingVery Low$2.4 million[21]
LightningVery Low$47,000[22]
EarthquakeVery Low$9,005[23]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, coastal flooding, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic activity[24].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityVery Low10.6[9]
Community resilienceVery High94.5[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Very Low compared with other US counties, with a score of 10.5[21]. OpenFEMA lists 5 residential flood insurance contracts in force, out of 3,730 residential structures, as of 2026-08-03[25]. OpenFEMA's NFIP claims data show 2 claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $7,926 in total[3]. To learn about a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[26].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[21] Very Low, $2.4 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[25] 5 of 3,730 homes
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 2 filed, $7,926 paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[26]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 17 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Stevens County since 1969[2]. The most recent is DR-4722-MN, Severe Storms And Flooding, declared 2023-07-19[27]. NOAA's tornado database records 18 tornadoes that touched the county from 1950 to 2024, and none were rated F3/EF3 or stronger[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Stevens County, since 1969
Incident type Declarations
Severe Storm[2] 7
Flood[2] 7
Drought[2] 1
Hurricane[2] 1
Snowstorm[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4722-MN[27] Severe Storms And Flooding 2023-07-19
DR-4666-MN[27] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding 2022-08-09
DR-4658-MN[27] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding 2022-07-08
DR-4442-MN[27] Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding 2019-06-12
DR-4131-MN[27] Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding 2013-07-25

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Questions people ask

Is Stevens County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Very Low compared with other US counties[21]. FEMA's Expected Annual Loss from inland flooding is $2.4 million a year, the largest hazard value in the county[7].
Does Stevens County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 18 tornadoes that touched the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Very Low compared with other US counties[17].
Is Stevens County at risk of earthquakes or wildfire?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Very Low[23]. FEMA also rates wildfire risk Very Low compared with other US counties[20].
How many disasters have been declared in Stevens County?
OpenFEMA lists 17 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1969[2].
How do I check a flood zone for an address?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[26].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Stevens County is $6.4 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Very Low, score 19.3). Of this, buildings account for $3.1 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $2.5 million and... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 17 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Stevens County since 1969 (15 major disaster, 2 emergency or fire management). By incident type: severe storm 7, flood 7, drought 1, hurricane 1, snowstorm 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and other... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 2 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Stevens County, 2 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $7,926 in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 18 recorded tornadoes touched Stevens County. The strongest were rated F2 (most recent of them on 1984-04-26). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2022-05-30. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Stevens County is Very Low, with a Risk Index score of 7.0 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Stevens County are winter weather (61.0, Relatively Moderate), hail (55.9, Relatively Low), cold wave (53.1, Relatively Low). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Stevens County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($2.4 million a year), cold wave ($1.8 million a year), tornado ($614,000 a year), out of $6.4 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Stevens County is Very Low (score 10.6). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Stevens County is Very High (score 94.5). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 61.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $161,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 20.21 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 55.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $565,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 3.72 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 53.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.8 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 13.63 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 31.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $514,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 2.66 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 30.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $238,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 2.74 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 29.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $41,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 3.31 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 24.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $614,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.39 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 22.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $35,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.28 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 22.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $249 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 20.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $13,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0005 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 10.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.4 million a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.32 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 26 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 8.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $47,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 33.22 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Stevens County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 5.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $9,005 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0002 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Stevens County: avalanche, coastal flooding, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  25. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 5 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Stevens County, out of 3,730 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.1%. OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  26. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  27. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.