Enter any address in Cottonwood County, Minnesota to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow and widespread flooding are the dominant flood types in Cottonwood County. Recent events in June and July 2024 highlight the potential for significant impacts, with multi-day heavy rainfall leading to major to record flooding along area streams and rivers, and extensive overland flooding. These events were severe enough to warrant a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the county.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced a higher volume of claims, with an average payout of $9,208 and an average water depth of -2.3 feet. While Zone X has seen fewer claims, the average payout is higher at $18,686, with an average water depth of -0.6 feet. Homeowners and real estate agents should pay close attention to properties located near rivers and streams, as well as those in identified Zone A areas, due to the historical frequency and severity of flooding.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cottonwood County, Minnesota has recorded 57 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 11 flash floods and 46 river or area floods. The county has received 17 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jun 16, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 8, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 12, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 15, 2018 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Apr 9, 2013 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 22, 2010 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 1, 2010 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 21, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 21, 2024 | 20.70M |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 12, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 6, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 4, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 2, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 28, 2019 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 21, 2024
A multi-day significant heavy rainfall event from June 20-22 resulted in widespread rain totals between 5 and 10 inches across southwest Minnesota. As rainfall reached area streams and rivers, major to record flooding was observed, devastating multiple towns and communities. Extensive overland flooding also resulted in significant impacts and damages. All river crest information is preliminary ...
Flood — Jul 1, 2024
River levels from the historic June flooding remained above flood stage for some locations into July, although continued a declining trend.
Flood — May 14, 2023
Occasional moderate to heavy rainfall resulted in amounts from 5 to 9 inches in the northeast corner of Cottonwood County over a three-day period resulting in significant rural flooding, and some adjacent urban impacts into Comfrey on the morning of May 14.
Flood — Apr 12, 2023
Rapid snowmelt from a few day period of well above normal temperatures focused on the 11-13th of April resulted in minor to locally moderate flooding through much of the Big Sioux River Basin. Some areas north of I-90 lost between 2 to 5 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE) from the first to second week of April, but antecedent drought conditions resulted in only a percentage of this water act...
Flash Flood — Jul 5, 2022
A cluster of thunderstorms developed across eastern Montana and the western Dakotas during the morning hours. These storms organized and turned southeastward, feeding on rich inflow of post-frontal air with up to 3000 J/kg of MLCAPE and over 1000 J/kg of DCAPE. Along with strong storm-relative shear, parameters favored development of a strong cold pool and balanced mesocyclone, which spread sou...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Cottonwood County, Minnesota:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Cottonwood County, Minnesota that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.