Natural hazards · Shell Rock

Shell Rock, MN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Shell Rock comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1980. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Shell Rock?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Shell Rock to be higher than in 58% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and drought.

Inland flooding43%Drought22%Tornadoes17%Cold waves7%Strong wind7%Everything else6%

By hazard

What Shell Rock faces

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

Inland flooding

43% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Drought

22% of expected damage

Recorded about 17 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

17% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 8 years in the area

Cold waves

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. places

Recorded about 10 times a year in the area

Strong wind

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

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 Shell Rock flood?

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

8paid claims since 1980

$124Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19802026

Biggest named events

Midwest Flooding: 1 claim, $7K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Freeborn County.

Disasters that hit Shell Rock

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Shell Rock itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Township of Shell Rock.

Brought FEMA money into Shell RockDeclared for Freeborn County only

2024

Severe Storms and Flooding

$15K to the Township of Shell Rock for repairs

2019

Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$7K to the Township of Shell Rock for repairs

2016

Severe Storms and Flooding

$3K to the Township of Shell Rock for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

$11K to the Township of Shell Rock for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$7K to the Township of Shell Rock for repairs

2001

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

$7K to the Township of Shell Rock for repairs

Freeborn County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Shell Rock

Shell Rock and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Shell Rockmostly inland floodingModerate

Glenvillemostly inland floodingModerate

Haywardmostly inland floodingModerate

Londonmostly inland floodingModerate

Freemanmostly inland floodingLow

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. Shell Rock covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Shell Rock’s own flood-insurance community (here, the census tracts inside it); household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Shell Rock. 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 Shell Rock total about $2.2M 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.