Enter any address in Dodge County, Minnesota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Dodge County. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 17 flash flood events and 12 flood events. For example, on June 28, 2019, very heavy rainfall caused flash flooding across Dodge, Olmsted, and Fillmore counties, submerging roads and leading to livestock being swept away. Widespread river flooding also occurred in June 2024, with rainfall totals upwards of 7 inches between June 20th and 22nd causing river basins in southeast Minnesota to enter flood stage.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have experienced the most claims, averaging $13,860 in payouts with an average water depth of 2.4 feet. While Zone A properties had slightly higher average payouts ($14,500), they experienced significantly less water depth on average (0.6 feet). Homeowners in areas designated as Zone X_UNSHADED, Zone A, or Zone X_SHADED should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
22 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Dodge County, Minnesota has recorded 29 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 12 river or area floods. The county has received 16 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jun 11, 2014 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 22, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 18, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 14, 2004 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Flood | Mar 23, 2001 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 17, 2000 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 22, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 28, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 28, 2019 | 145.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 20, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 5, 2019 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 4, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 22, 2016 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2014 | 413.00K |
| Flood | Jun 16, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 15, 2011 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jun 22, 2024
Above normal rainfall over the course of June, combined with a robust rainfall event between June 20th and 22nd, led to widespread river flooding across portions of southeast Minnesota. Rainfall amounts upwards of 7 inches between the 20th and 22nd allowed the Mississippi River, Cedar River and many other river basins in southeast Minnesota to enter flood stage towards the end of June. Flooding...
Flood — Jun 28, 2019
Thunderstorms with very heavy rain moved very slowly across southeast Minnesota during the early morning hours of June 28th. These storms dumped between 3 and 7 inches of rain that resulted in flash flooding occurring in Dodge, Olmsted and Fillmore Counties. The Rochester International Airport (Olmsted County) was closed when water covered the runways. Numerous roads were underwater and between...
Flash Flood — Jun 28, 2019
Thunderstorms with very heavy rain moved very slowly across southeast Minnesota during the early morning hours of June 28th. These storms dumped between 3 and 7 inches of rain that resulted in flash flooding occurring in Dodge, Olmsted and Fillmore Counties. The Rochester International Airport (Olmsted County) was closed when water covered the runways. Numerous roads were underwater and between...
Flash Flood — Jul 20, 2019
Two rounds of thunderstorms moved across southeast Minnesota during the morning of July 20th. The first round produced at 74 mph wind gust at the Rochester International Airport (Olmsted County). The second round of storms blew down trees from near Austin (Mower County) to the northwest side of Rochester. Around 5,000 customers were without power after the storms passed through Rochester. Anoth...
Flash Flood — Jul 5, 2019
A band of showers and thunderstorms moved slowly across parts of southeast Minnesota during the evening of July 5th. These storms dropped between 2 and 6 inches of rain across the central portions of Dodge County into western Olmsted County. The resulting runoff caused flash flooding to occur in Dodge Center (Dodge County) and near Byron (Olmsted County). The main impact was water covered roads.
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 Dodge 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 Dodge 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.