Enter any address in Martin County, Minnesota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Martin County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 15 flash flood events and 7 flood events. For example, on June 16, 2014, thunderstorm complexes produced significant street flooding across the region. More recently, heavy rainfall between August 16-18, 2025, led to flooded roadways and damaged buildings in southern Minnesota, with widespread impacts noted.
Homeowners in flood zones, particularly those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) designation, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Martin County, Minnesota has recorded 22 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 15 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 15 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 |
| 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 Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jun 11, 2014 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 22, 2010 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 14, 2004 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Storm | Jan 3, 1997 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 17, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 23, 2010 | 915.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 23, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 15, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2010 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 20, 2007 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 7, 2006 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2006 | — |
Flash Flood — Aug 17, 2025
Several individual rounds of thunderstorms impacted southern Minnesota from Friday, August 16th through Sunday, August 18th. Heavy rain amounts on the order of 5-10 inches fell over the course of 72 hours, most of which fell from late Saturday into early Sunday, leading to several cases of flooded roadways and damaged buildings. The highest amounts and most widespread impacts were across Waseca...
Flash Flood — Jun 16, 2014
The afternoon of Monday, June 16th, two major thunderstorm complexes across Nebraska and South Dakota, congealed into one along the Minnesota, Iowa border from Sioux Falls, eastward along I-90 to Fairmont and Albert Lea. Some of the severe storms moved north of I-90 and produced wind and hail as far north as Mankato, Waseca and Owatonna. Wind gusts in excess of 60 to 70 mph were clocked in the...
Flash Flood — Jun 22, 2013
Two rounds of severe thunderstorms occurred across portions of southern and central Minnesota, between Friday afternoon, June 21st and early Saturday morning, June 22nd. These storms first developed across central South Dakota and moved into west central Minnesota after 4 pm, causing large hail, damaging winds and torrential rainfall. ||These storms weakened briefly in central Minnesota, before...
Flood — Sep 23, 2010
A strong storm system, in combination with deep moisture from the remnants of a tropical system, produced a large area of flooding rainfall with amounts as high as 8 and 11 inches in an 18 hour period. ||The main area of precipitation occurred across far southern Minnesota, and portions of west central Wisconsin, between 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 22nd, to 9:00 a.m., Thursday, September ...
Flash Flood — Sep 23, 2010
A strong storm system, in combination with deep moisture from the remnants of a tropical system, produced a large area of flooding rainfall with amounts as high as 8 and 11 inches in an 18 hour period. ||The main area of precipitation occurred across far southern Minnesota, and portions of west central Wisconsin, between 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 22nd, to 9:00 a.m., Thursday, September ...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Martin 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 Martin 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.