Natural hazards · Orono

Orono, MN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Orono comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1978. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Orono?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Orono to be higher than in 22% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding45%Cold waves19%Tornadoes18%Hail9%Heat waves7%Everything else3%

By hazard

What Orono faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

45% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 28% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

19% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 37% of U.S. places

Recorded about 9 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

18% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Hail

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Heat waves

7% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 44% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Lower here

Ice stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Orono flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Orono, from FEMA’s records.

7paid claims since 1978

$213Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19782026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Orono isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Hennepin County.

Disasters that hit Orono

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Orono itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Orono.

Brought FEMA money into OronoDeclared for Hennepin County only

2014

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$108K to the City of Orono for repairs

2013

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$32K to the City of Orono for repairs

Hennepin County has had 15 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Orono

Orono and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Shorewoodmostly inland floodingLow

Minnetristamostly inland floodingLow

Spring Parkmostly inland floodingLow

Village of Minnetonka Beachmostly inland floodingLow

Tonka Baymostly inland floodingLow

Oronomostly inland floodingLow

Moundmostly inland floodingLow

Wayzatamostly inland floodingVery low

Medinamostly inland floodingVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Orono covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Orono’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Orono. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Orono total about $4.6M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.