Natural Disasters in Watertown, MN

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

59.7

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

80.5

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

10.6

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

99.6

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Strong Wind94.2Hail85.6Tornado79.5

Hazard	Risk Score
Strong Wind	94.2
Hail	85.6
Tornado	79.5
Cold Wave	73.8
Heat Wave	73.7
Landslide	66.9
Ice Storm	61.5
Winter Weather	49.7
Wildfire	39.3
Lightning	38.7
Drought	36.2
Earthquake	9.0

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Flood

Jun 2024

Most Common Type

Flood

9 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jun 28, 2024	Flood	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Apr 7, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Jul 21, 2014	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
May 10, 2011	Flood	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Oct 13, 2010	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Apr 19, 2010	Flood	FLOODING
Mar 19, 2010	Flood	FLOODING
Sep 13, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
May 16, 2001	Flood	SEVERE WINTER STORMS, FLOODING, AND TORNADOES
Jun 23, 1998	Tornado	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT LINE WINDS, AND TORNADOES
Apr 8, 1997	Flood	SEVERE FLOODING, HIGH WINDS,SEVERE STORMS
Jun 11, 1993	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING
Aug 6, 1987	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES & FLOODING
Jun 17, 1976	Drought	DROUGHT
Apr 18, 1969	Flood	FLOODING
Apr 11, 1965	Flood	FLOODING

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$214,860

Avg Claim Payout

$3,069

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$2,827,863

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

115

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4182	Flood	45	$1,586,909
DR-4797	Flood	16	$433,841
DR-1982	Flood	14	$344,634
DR-4531	Biological	8	$205,572
DR-1370	Flood	15	$111,174
DR-1900	Flood	11	$106,823
DR-1941	Severe Storm(s)	6	$38,910

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$65,416

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.50

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
400.1: Utility Protective Measures (Electric, Gas, etc.)	1	$14,106
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	1	$51,310

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Watertown has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are strong wind, hail, tornado. The area has had 17 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (9 declarations). 70 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $2,827,863 in public assistance recovery funding. 2 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.