Federal records document 68 natural disaster events in the Benson, MN area (ZIP 56215). These include 42 hailstorms, 19 tornadoes, and 6 severe wind events. Total documented property damage amounts to $17.1M. These events have resulted in 1 recorded death and 7 injuries.
The dominant hazard type for Benson is hailstorms, with 42 recorded events making up 62% of the area's disaster history. Hail-related events have caused a combined $50K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on May 9, 2023.
There have been 19 recorded tornadoes in this area, representing 28% of all disaster events. Tornado-related events have caused a combined $16.3M in documented property damage. The most recent recorded tornado occurred on May 15, 2025.
Benson has experienced 6 severe wind events on record. Wind-related events have caused a combined $750K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded severe wind event occurred on Jun 2, 2025.
Benson has experienced 1 extreme heat event on record. 1 fatality has been attributed to extreme heat events in this area. The most recent recorded extreme heat event occurred on Jul 18, 2011.
The most significant disaster event on record for Benson was EF2 Tornado on Jun 11, 2001, which caused $10M in property damage. Another major event was EF2 Tornado (Jun 23, 1952), causing $2.5M in damages. EF1 Tornado on Sep 19, 2017 also caused significant damage ($1.5M).
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 56215 has experienced 68 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include hailstorms (42 events), tornadoes (19 events), severe wind events (6 events), and extreme heat event (1 event). The primary hazard is hailstorms, which account for 62% of all recorded events.
Hailstorms are the most frequently recorded hazard in Benson, MN, with 42 events documented. These events have caused a combined $50K in property damage.
Benson has 19 recorded tornado events in the historical record. The strongest tornado recorded reached severity level 3/5 on the normalized scale. Total property damage from tornadoes in this area is $16.3M. The most recent tornado was recorded on May 15, 2025.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 56215 was EF2 Tornado, which occurred on Jun 11, 2001. This event caused $10M in documented property damage. It was rated at severity level 3/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $17.1M in property damage in the Benson, MN area (ZIP 56215). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced 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 →