Meeker County, MN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Meeker County has experienced 11 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Meeker County's highest-rated hazards are hail, strong wind, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 37 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is relatively low (10th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Meeker County has been designated in 11 declarations since 1965, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (4), flood (3), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1993 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1976 | Drought | Drought |
| 1969 | Flood | Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 11 total declarations since 1965.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 26 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 36.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 43.7 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 48.4 | 6 | 0 | $100K |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 71.6 | 27 | 0 | $150K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 71.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 62.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 32.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 57.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 29.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 43.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 44 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Meeker County ranks in the 10th percentile (Very low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 10th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 6th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 29th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 15th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 27th | Low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 17th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 19th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 42.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 37 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 18 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (+6% — relatively stable).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Meeker County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Meeker County, Minnesota are hail, strong wind, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Meeker County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Meeker County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has Meeker County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Meeker County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Meeker County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Stearns County, MN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Sibley County, MN has the lowest (Very Low). Meeker County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Meeker County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Meeker County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Meeker County's composite score of 27 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 27% of US counties.