Natural Disasters in Minnesota: History & Risk Data
64,383 recorded disaster events across 855 ZIP codes.
State Statistics
Event Timeline
Hazard Breakdown
Most Affected ZIP Codes in Minnesota
📊 Minnesota Disaster Profile
With 64,383 recorded natural disaster events across 855 ZIP codes, Minnesota carries a substantial history of natural hazard activity. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $51.3B. A total of 2,148 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.
⚠️ Hazard Distribution
Hailstorms lead Minnesota's disaster profile with 47,972 events (75%), causing $5.7B in property damage. Other significant hazards include tornadoes (5,203 events, $20B in damages), severe wind events (4,389 events, $5B in damages), and floods (3,130 events, $18.6B in damages). Minnesota has no recorded hurricanes in the dataset.
📍 Geographic Impact
The most disaster-affected areas in Minnesota include ZIP 56560 (258 events, $174.3M in damages), ZIP 55920 (221 events, $54.5M in damages), and ZIP 55902 (220 events, $49.6M in damages).
📈 Trends Over Time
Disaster frequency in Minnesota has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 655% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2022 stands out as particularly active, with 4,122 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Minnesota
What natural disasters occur in Minnesota?
Minnesota has experienced 64,383 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include hailstorms (47,972), tornadoes (5,203), severe wind events (4,389), floods (3,130), blizzards (2,212), extreme cold events (793), wildfires (355), extreme heat events (315), and earthquakes (14). The most common hazard is hailstorms, accounting for 75% of all events.
What are the most disaster-prone areas in Minnesota?
Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in Minnesota are ZIP 56560 (258 events), ZIP 55920 (221 events), ZIP 55902 (220 events), ZIP 55112 (218 events), and ZIP 55906 (213 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.
How much damage have natural disasters caused in Minnesota?
Natural disasters have caused a documented $51.3B in property damage across Minnesota. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.
About This Data
State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →