Safest places to live in Minnesota from natural disasters
The lowest natural-disaster risk in Minnesota is in Aitkin County, Beltrami County, Big Stone County, where FEMA rates few or no severe perils. The most exposed county is Hennepin County, driven by tornado. This page ranks every Minnesota county by physical peril exposure, from official FEMA National Risk Index data.
Lowest-risk counties in Minnesota
| County | Physical risk | Top severe peril |
|---|---|---|
| Aitkin County | Low | none rated high |
| Beltrami County | Low | none rated high |
| Big Stone County | Low | none rated high |
| Cass County | Low | none rated high |
| Chippewa County | Low | none rated high |
| Chisago County | Low | none rated high |
| Clearwater County | Low | none rated high |
| Cook County | Low | none rated high |
Highest-risk counties in Minnesota
| County | Physical risk | Driven by |
|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | High | tornado |
| Dakota County | Elevated | tornado |
| Ramsey County | Elevated | tornado |
| Stearns County | Elevated | tornado |
| Washington County | Elevated | tornado |
Dominant perils in Minnesota
Across Minnesota, the perils most often rated Relatively High or higher by FEMA are tornado. County rankings reflect physical exposure, not dollar value, so a county can rank low here even if it is densely developed. For a specific property, the flood zone and exact peril ratings matter more than the county summary.
Look up any Minnesota address on the Safe Havens map, or read how Plattow scores risk and FEMA flood zones. See all states on the states index.