Minnesota natural disasters & FEMA declarations
MN · 27th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Minnesota has had 81 federally declared disasters since 1957, the 27th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Flood (31 declarations, about 38% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds" (Straight-Line Winds), on Oct 22, 2025.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Minnesota, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | 31 | 38% |
| Severe Storm | 26 | 32% |
| Fire | 10 | 12% |
| Biological | 4 | 5% |
| Tornado | 3 | 4% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 2 | 2% |
| Straight-Line Winds | 1 | 1% |
| Other | 1 | 1% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 1% |
| Snowstorm | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 63 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 10 |
| Emergency (EM) | 8 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Minnesota's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 1 |
| 1960s | 6 |
| 1970s | 18 |
| 1980s | 2 |
| 1990s | 14 |
| 2000s | 14 |
| 2010s | 15 |
| 2020s | 11 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22, 2025 | Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4894-MN |
| May 14, 2025 | Munger Shaw Fire | Fire | FM-5583-MN |
| Jun 28, 2024 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | DR-4797-MN |
| Jul 19, 2023 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | DR-4722-MN |
| Aug 9, 2022 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4666-MN |
| Jul 13, 2022 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | DR-4659-MN |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Minnesota
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Minnesota in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Minnesota had?
Minnesota has had 81 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1957, the 27th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Minnesota?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Minnesota is "Flood", with 31 declarations — about 38% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Minnesota?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Minnesota in this snapshot was "Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds" (Straight-Line Winds), declared Oct 22, 2025.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18