Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Cass County, MN

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
27021
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Approved, expires 2027-06-23. Plan: Cass County (FEMA plan 108229), approved 2022-06-24.

Since the plan was approved on 2022-06-24: 3 new hazard declarations (3 incidents) and 117 NOAA Storm Events records; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($7,850,726 a year), Cold Wave ($3,715,976) and Tornado ($762,088).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Approved, expires 2027-06-23
Plan:
Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)
Approved:
2022-06-24
Days to expiry:
266
Update underway:
none recorded in FEMA's plan tracker

What changed since your last plan (approved 2022-06-24)

New federal declarations:
3 new hazard declarations (3 incidents): DR-4658-MN (Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding), DR-4666-MN (Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding), DR-4797-MN (Severe Storms and Flooding)
Storm Events records since approval:
117 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 0 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 0
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county: 16 rows, in the section "Plan clock: Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county" on the following pages.

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Plan clock

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryUpdate underwayNotes
Cass CountyCountyApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Backus cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Bena cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Boy River cityCityPlan 108229 approved 2022-06-24, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleCass County (FEMA plan 108229), pending adoption here2022-06-24 by FEMA; not yet adopted here2027-06-23 once adoptedFEMA tracker shows a plan approvable pending adoptionNot yet eligible: adopt the approved plan.
Cass Lake cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Chickamaw Beach cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
East Gull Lake cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Federal Dam cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Hackensack cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Lake Shore cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Longville cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Motley cityCityApproved, expires 2028-06-08Morrison County (FEMA plan 108911)2023-06-092028-06-08617Also approved under plan 108229 (Cass County, expires 2027-06-23). FEMA's plan status map shows one plan per jurisdiction and may show one of these; this packet uses the approved plan that expires last.
Pillager cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Pine River cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Remer cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266
Walker cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23Cass County (FEMA plan 108229)2022-06-242027-06-23266

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countWhy this hazard can be left outNRI Not Applicable, no declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996Storm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively LowRelatively Low$7,850,722$4under $1$7,850,7265
2Cold WaveRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$2,536$72$3,713,368$3,715,97655
3TornadoRelatively LowRelatively Low$643,381$953$117,755$762,08811
4Strong WindRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$108,327$5,449$489,285$603,061227Includes 1 High Wind and 1 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
5Heat WaveRelatively LowRelatively Low$947under $1$312,543$313,4902
6LightningRelatively LowRelatively Low$25,690n/a$187,209$212,8994
7Winter WeatherRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$95,629$191$54,136$149,956102
8HailVery LowVery Low$56,257$25,421$26,596$108,274246
9DroughtRelatively LowRelatively Lown/a$88,445n/a$88,44547
10WildfireVery LowVery Low$72,575$99$10,239$82,9120No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
11Ice StormVery LowVery Low$13,316n/a$2,869$16,1858
12LandslideRelatively LowRelatively Low$2,021n/a$11,036$13,0570No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
13EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$3,411n/a$652$4,063Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
HurricaneNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates hurricane Not Applicable for this county, and no counted federal declaration for this county names it (EM-3242-MN names it but is not counted as a local occurrence; see B1-d).No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local wildfire and landslide records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 9607 (Very Low, 5.2); tract 9400.01 (Very Low, 5.1); tract 9400.02 (Very Low, 4.1)
Hurricaneno tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Landslidetract 9400.01 (Relatively Moderate, 97.2); tract 9602 (Relatively Low, 95.1); tract 9601 (Relatively Low, 92.3)
Tornadotract 9400.01 (Relatively Moderate, 72.7); tract 9607 (Relatively Moderate, 62.8); tract 9606 (Relatively Moderate, 56.9)
Wildfiretract 9607 (Relatively Low, 87.8); tract 9608.03 (Relatively Low, 85.9); tract 9608.01 (Relatively Low, 85.0)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 9607 is Census Tract 9607). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill55 records, 1997 to 2026 (55 zone-level)1 day to 4 days (median 2 days); 44 with a recorded value4 consecutive days, 2021-02-12 to 2021-02-15, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage0
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)47 records, 2006 to 2026 (47 zone-level)15 days to 297 days (median 122 days); 10 with a recorded value297 days (about 9.8 months), 2023-07-18 to 2024-05-09, a run of 12 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)265 records, 1959 to 20260.75 in to 3 in (median 1 in); 265 with a recorded value3 in hail, 2021-07-26Hail, 2010-06-17, $15,000 property; crops not reported (2010 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Pillager city (27 records), Backus city (23 records), Longville city (21 records), Walker city (19 records), Pine River city (17 records), Bena city (14 records), Hackensack city (14 records), Remer city (8 records), Cass Lake city (6 records), Federal Dam city (6 records); and 4 more jurisdictions (see the Excel file).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)2 records, 2011 to 2016 (2 zone-level)1 day to 5 days (median 3 days); 2 with a recorded value5 consecutive days, 2011-07-16 to 2011-07-20, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)8 records, 1997 to 2013 (8 zone-level)No damage reported in 8 records.Countywide (zone-level records).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)5 records, 1997 to 2024 (1 zone-level)Flood, 2012-06-20, $300,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Longville city (2 records). Zone-level records (1) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)4 records, 2015 to 2025Lightning, 2015-07-28, $155,000 property; crops not reported (2015 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Chickamaw Beach city (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)2 records, 1997 to 2010 (2 zone-level)49 kt (56 mph) to 61 kt (70 mph) (median 55 kt (63 mph)); 2 with a recorded value61 kt (70 mph), measurement type not recorded, High Wind, 1997-09-01; NWS zone MNZ025Strong Wind, 2010-05-22, $750 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2010 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)263 records, 1970 to 202650 kt (58 mph) to 90 kt (104 mph) (median 52 kt (60 mph)); 226 with a recorded value90 kt (104 mph) estimated gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2015-07-12Thunderstorm Wind, 2022-05-30, $50,000 property; $0 crops (2022 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Remer city (18 records), Cass Lake city (16 records), Pillager city (16 records), Walker city (16 records), Bena city (15 records), Pine River city (15 records), Longville city (14 records), Hackensack city (11 records), Backus city (10 records), Federal Dam city (7 records); and 3 more jurisdictions (see the Excel file).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)28 records, 1964 to 2025F/EF0 to F/EF4 (median F/EF1); 28 with a recorded valueF4 tornado, 1969-08-06, 12.3 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 833 yd wide, $2,500,000 property; crops not recorded (1969 dollars), 12 direct deaths, 70 direct injuriesEvent records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Bena city (2 records), East Gull Lake city (1 record), Pillager city (1 record), Remer city (1 record).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)102 records, 1996 to 2026 (102 zone-level)No damage reported in 102 records.Countywide (zone-level records).

Where a hazard names more than 10 jurisdictions, the table lists the 10 with the most records; every one is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-c Extent".

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow and lightning.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 14 declarations covering 11 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2024-06-282024-06-16DR-4797-MNMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Flooding$351,597.02new since last plan; within last 5 years
2022-08-092022-05-29DR-4666-MNMajor disasterSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding; Strong Wind; Tornado$37,548.45new since last plan; within last 5 years
2022-07-082022-05-08DR-4658-MNMajor disasterSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingInland Flooding; Strong Wind; Tornado$112,158.46new since last plan; within last 5 years
2020-04-072020-01-20DR-4531-MNMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$38,723.44
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3453-MNEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4531
2018-09-052018-06-15DR-4390-MNMajor disasterSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Strong Wind, Tornado$237,306.22
2012-07-062012-06-14DR-4069-MNMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Flooding$166,099.78
2005-09-132005-08-29EM-3242-MNEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
1999-07-281999-07-04DR-1283-MNMajor disasterSevere Storms, Winds, and FloodingInland Flooding$802,084.10
1997-04-081997-03-21DR-1175-MNMajor disasterSevere Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Strong Windno Public Assistance recorded
1995-08-181995-07-09DR-1064-MNMajor disasterSevere Thunderstorms, Winds, Flooding, Tornadoes, and HeatInland Flooding; Tornadono Public Assistance recorded
1976-06-171976-06-17EM-3013-MNEmergencyDroughtDroughtno Public Assistance recorded
1966-03-221966-03-22DR-215-MNMajor disasterFloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1965-04-111965-04-11DR-188-MNMajor disasterFloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1957-06-221957-06-22DR-80-MNMajor disasterFloodsInland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

7 Fire Management declarations (1976-09-08 to 1976-10-01) FEMA filed as Statewide with no county; each names one local fire. Listed on the state page.

Public Assistance filed under this county for declarations that do not list it: 5 rows, $44,966.69

Sources: 2, 3

FEMA numberDeclaredTitleApplicantPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollars
DR-4182-MN2014-07-21Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesBartlett, Township of$13,068.75
DR-1830-MN2009-04-09Severe Storms and FloodingSUGAR BUSH, TOWNSHIP OF$9,693.86
DR-1830-MN2009-04-09Severe Storms and FloodingLAKEPORT, TOWNSHIP OF$5,219.60
DR-1370-MN2001-05-16Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesDO NOT USE EAGLE VALLEY (TOWNSHIP OF)$11,234.25
DR-1370-MN2001-05-16Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesBartlett, Township of$5,750.23

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under this county, but FEMA's declaration rows for these disasters do not designate it (an electric cooperative or district serving several counties, for example). Not in any declaration row above and not counted.

Public Assistance not placed in any Minnesota county: 14 rows, $9,133,931.59; listed on the Minnesota state page.

Source: 3

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Cold Wave556915001996 to 2026-06-30
Drought4719622101996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail265412561001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave2000001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Ice Storm8000001996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding51011031996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning4101001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind265292453421955 to 2026-06-30Includes 1 High Wind and 1 Strong Wind records.
Tornado28123421950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather10219625001996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2023-07-18Drought$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2023 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MNZ025 (NORTHERN CASS), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Drought
2022-05-30Thunderstorm Wind55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust$50,000 property; $0 crops (2022 dollars)0, 0BACKUSin the 12 months before plan approval; within last 5 yearsB1-c most damaging: Thunderstorm Wind
2021-07-26Hail3 in$0 property; $0 crops (2021 dollars)0, 0BENAin the 12 months before plan approvalB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2021-02-12Extreme Cold/Wind Chill$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2021 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MNZ025 (NORTHERN CASS), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2015-07-28Lightning$155,000 property; crops not reported (2015 dollars)0, 0CHICKAMAW BEACHB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
2015-07-12Thunderstorm Wind90 kt (104 mph) estimated gustdamage not reported0, 0GULL LAKEB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2012-06-20Flood$300,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)0, 0LONGVILLE to PINE RIVER MUNI ARPTB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2011-07-16Heat$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2011 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MNZ033 (SOUTHERN CASS), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2000-08-14Thunderstorm Wind60 kt (69 mph) estimateddamage not reported1, 0OUTINGdeaths or injuries recorded
1997-09-01High Wind61 kt (70 mph), measurement type not recordeddamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MNZ025 (NORTHERN CASS), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
1991-07-05TornadoF1, 0.3 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 10 yd widedamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)1, 0location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded
1969-08-06TornadoF4, 12.3 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 833 yd wide$2,500,000 property; crops not recorded (1969 dollars)12, 70location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (781 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Cold Wave15.7event-days per yearabout 15.7 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 18 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (60%)2992005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought13.3event-days per yearabout 13.3 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 11 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (36.7%)4272000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.000104annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.0104%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail2.48events per yearabout 2.48 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)93.7 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave1.19event-days per yearabout 1.19 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)18.32005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricaneevents per year1851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Ice Storm0.128event-days per yearabout 0.128 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 8 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (26.7%)81946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding0.143event-days per yearabout 0.143 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 5 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (16.7%)41996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.522events per year (modeled)about 0.52 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning29.4days per year with a strikeabout 29.4 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind1.61events per yearabout 1.61 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)611986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.588events per yearabout 0.59 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.000597annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.0597%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather17.1event-days per yearabout 17.1 days per yearHighly likelyStorm Events event-days in 28 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (93.3%)3252005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 2025136304.53
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 202514300.467
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 2025207306.9
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 202510300.333
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20250300
TornadoEF0-11996 to 202511300.367
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20250300
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Cold Wave11 of 1178.589.797.9Very High 3, Relatively High 8
Drought11 of 1175.783.192.7Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 8, Very Low 2
Earthquake11 of 111.12.85.2Very Low 11
Hail11 of 1146.756.574.2Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 10
Heat Wave11 of 1114.842.071.9Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 8, Very Low 1
Hurricane0 of 11Not Applicable 11
Ice Storm11 of 112.119.449.2Relatively Low 2, Very Low 9
Inland Flooding11 of 1139.859.288.8Relatively High 3, Relatively Moderate 6, Relatively Low 2
Landslide11 of 1186.292.197.2Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 10
Lightning11 of 1145.364.688.7Relatively High 3, Relatively Moderate 7, Relatively Low 1
Strong Wind11 of 1164.781.693.7Relatively High 4, Relatively Moderate 7
Tornado11 of 1143.153.272.7Relatively Moderate 5, Relatively Low 6
Wildfire11 of 1169.883.087.8Relatively Low 11
Winter Weather11 of 1179.386.296.9Very High 1, Relatively High 10

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its planNotes
Cass CountyCountyApproved, expires 2027-06-23FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$38,440.770 total; 0 since its plan
Backus cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded33 total; 9 since its plan
Bena cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23no Public Assistance recorded31 total; 6 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Boy River cityCityPlan 108229 approved 2022-06-24, pending adoption here; not yet eligibleFMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded5 total; no approved plan
Cass Lake cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23$13,784.2522 total; 3 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Chickamaw Beach cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded3 total; 0 since its plan
East Gull Lake cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded11 total; 1 since its plan
Federal Dam cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded13 total; 6 since its plan
Hackensack cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded25 total; 1 since its plan
Lake Shore cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$4,834.811 total; 0 since its plan
Longville cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23no Public Assistance recorded37 total; 2 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.
Motley cityCityApproved, expires 2028-06-08FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded1 total; 0 since its planAlso approved under plan 108229 (Cass County, expires 2027-06-23). FEMA's plan status map shows one plan per jurisdiction and may show one of these; this packet uses the approved plan that expires last.
Pillager cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded44 total; 8 since its plan
Pine River cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded32 total; 2 since its plan
Remer cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0no Public Assistance recorded27 total; 1 since its plan
Walker cityCityApproved, expires 2027-06-23$35,74835 total; 5 since its planNo NFIP community ID on this jurisdiction's plan row.

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2022-06-24county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Cold Wave$10,256,315,639$34,078,95330,036$2,536$72$3,713,368under 0.0001%$0
Droughtn/a$8,903,155n/an/a$88,445n/a0.993% (agriculture)$0NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$17,118,489,828n/a30,066$3,411n/a$652under 0.0001%
Hail$10,256,315,639$34,078,95330,036$56,257$25,421$26,5960.000549%$0
Heat Wave$10,256,315,639$34,078,95330,036$947under $1$312,543under 0.0001%
HurricaneNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Ice Storm$10,236,867,752n/a29,955$13,316n/a$2,8690.00013%
Inland Flooding$10,179,135,865$1,7083$7,850,722$4under $1n/a (see note)$0$501,303.93NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$245,459,347n/a563$2,021n/a$11,0360.000823%
Lightning$10,256,315,639n/a30,036$25,690n/a$187,2090.00025%$100,000
Strong Wind$10,256,315,639$34,078,95330,036$108,327$5,449$489,2850.00106%$0$149,706.91
Tornado$10,256,315,639$34,078,95330,036$643,381$953$117,7550.00627%$0$149,706.91
Wildfire$2,219,731,708$22,037,19412,881$72,575$99$10,2390.00327%
Winter Weather$10,256,315,639$34,078,95330,036$95,629$191$54,1360.000932%$0

Totals since 2022-06-24 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 73 county-coded records, 73 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $100,000; 44 zone-level records, 44 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: $501,303.93 on 3 counted declarations.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population30,036
Building value (total, not at risk)$10,256,315,639
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$34,078,953
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$8,995,444
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$4,925,688
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively High
Community resilience ratingRelatively High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county total and NFIP communities

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total0000000

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Cass County2706310000000
Backus city2707090000000
Boy River city2700570000000
Chickamaw Beach city2700580000000
East Gull Lake city2700590000000
Federal Dam city2700600000000
Hackensack city2700610000000
Lake Shore city2700620000000
Motley city2703000000000
Pillager city2700630000000
Pine River city2700640000000
Remer city2700650000000

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group: 0 in every occupancy group.

Sources: 1, 4

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 0 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Cass County, MN: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 27021). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/mn/27021/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: contact@hazardplain.org