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Natural hazard risk in Washington County, Minnesota

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

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 83.8 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$92.7 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1965
15[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$5.4 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
23[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Washington County an overall rating of Relatively Moderate[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores in the county are strong wind, hail and tornado[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 rates the overall natural hazard risk for Washington County Relatively Moderate, with a score of 83.8 out of 100 compared with all US counties[5]. FEMA lists $92.7 million in expected annual loss from all 18 hazards[1]. Expected annual loss is FEMA's estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. The largest parts of that loss come from inland flooding, tornado and strong wind, in that order[8]. FEMA rates social vulnerability Very Low[9]. FEMA rates community resilience Very High, which FEMA describes as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10]. FEMA says the index does not predict next year's losses[7].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Strong WindVery High$10.6 million[11]
HailRelatively High$5.1 million[12]
TornadoRelatively High$19.5 million[13]
LightningRelatively High$2.0 million[14]
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$10.5 million[15]
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$41.5 million[16]
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$2.8 million[17]
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$319,000[18]
LandslideRelatively Low$13,000[19]
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$310,000[20]
WildfireRelatively Low$202,000[21]
EarthquakeVery Low$24,000[22]
DroughtVery Low$44[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 High97.1[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding Relatively Moderate for Washington County, with an expected annual loss of $41.5 million a year[16]. OpenFEMA lists 247 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03[25]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 22.4% of homes are insured[25]. OpenFEMA records 533 NFIP claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $5.4 million in total[3]. For a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[26].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[16] Relatively Moderate, $41.5 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[25] 247 of 90,207 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[25] 580, of which 130 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 533 filed, $5.4 million 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 15 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County since 1965[2]. Flood accounts for 8 of them[2]. The most recent is DR-4442-MN, declared 2019-06-12[27]. NOAA's tornado database records 23 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and the most recent was on 2020-07-18[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County, since 1965
Incident type Declarations
Flood[2] 8
Severe Storm[2] 3
Drought[2] 1
Tornado[2] 1
Fire[2] 1
Hurricane[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4442-MN[27] Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding 2019-06-12
DR-1982-MN[27] Severe Storms And Flooding 2011-05-10
EM-3310-MN[27] Flooding 2010-03-19
EM-3242-MN[27] Hurricane Katrina Evacuation 2005-09-13
DR-1370-MN[27] Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes 2001-05-16

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.

Tornadoes

Before

  • Learn the warning signs: a rotating funnel cloud, an approaching cloud of debris or a loud roar like a freight train.
  • Sign up for community warning systems and learn what your local sirens sound like.
  • Pick a safe spot, such as a safe room built to FEMA criteria or an ICC 500 storm shelter, and practice getting there.
  • Include your pets in the household emergency plan.
  • Keep supplies, food, water and medication in case you have to stay home for a long time.

During

  • Go right away to the safe place you picked in advance.
  • Protect your head and neck with your arms and stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
  • No place in a car is fully safe. If you can get lower than the road, leave the car and lie down there.

Source: Ready.gov, tornadoes

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

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Questions people ask

Is Washington County, MN at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding Relatively Moderate for Washington County compared with other US counties[16]. FEMA lists $41.5 million a year in expected flood loss[16]. Use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center to check an address[26].
Does Washington County, MN get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 23 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively High compared with other US counties[13].
Is Washington County, MN at risk of earthquakes or wildfire?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Very Low[22] and wildfire risk Relatively Low[21] compared with other US counties.
How many disasters have been declared in Washington County, MN?
OpenFEMA lists 15 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1965[2].
How can I check a flood zone in Washington County, MN?
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 Washington County is $92.7 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 90.1). Of this, buildings account for $61.6 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 15 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Washington County since 1965 (11 major disaster, 4 emergency or fire management). By incident type: flood 8, severe storm 3, drought 1, tornado 1, fire 1, hurricane 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 533 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Washington County, 418 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $5.4 million 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): 23 recorded tornadoes touched Washington County. The strongest were rated EF3 (most recent of them on 2008-05-25). 1 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2020-07-18. 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 Washington County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 83.8 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 Washington County are strong wind (98.2, Very High), hail (94.8, Relatively High), tornado (94.3, Relatively High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores; FEMA's... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. 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
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Washington County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($41.5 million a year), tornado ($19.5 million a year), strong wind ($10.6 million a year), out of $92.7 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Washington 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 Washington County is Very High (score 97.1). 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), strong wind in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 98.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $10.6 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 4.37 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 94.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5.1 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 5.98 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), tornado in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 94.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $19.5 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.28 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 88.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.0 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 35.3 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 87.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $10.5 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 8.84 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 83.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $41.5 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.43 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of... FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 80.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.8 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 6.05 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record... FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 76.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $319,000 a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 17.37 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 72.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $13,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 65.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $310,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.39 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68... FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Washington County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 64.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $202,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0003 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 13.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $24,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0003 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Washington County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 12.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $44 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.78 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Washington 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): 247 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Washington County, out of 90,207 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.3%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 580 residential structures and 130 contracts, a... 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.