Sherburne County, MN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Sherburne County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Sherburne County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, hail, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 59% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. 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. Sherburne County has been designated in 10 declarations since 1965, covering 5 disaster types including flood (4), biological (2), severe storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, High Winds, Flooding |
| 1997 | Flood | Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe Storms |
| 1976 | Drought | Drought |
| 1969 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1966 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1965 | Flood | Flooding |
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 | Relatively Low | 76.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 62.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 6.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 58.4 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 70.4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 77.9 | 51 | 0 | $2K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 87.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 51.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 47.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 54 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 61 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 61.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 40.9 | 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
Sherburne 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 | 2nd | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 38th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 36th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 26th | 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 | 44th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 45th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 66.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 57 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 22 in 2016–20 vs 35 in 2021–25 (+59% — frequency increasing).
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 Sherburne County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Sherburne County, Minnesota are strong wind, hail, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Sherburne County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Sherburne County has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (4 declarations).
Has Sherburne County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Sherburne County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Sherburne County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Hennepin County, MN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Isanti County, MN has the lowest (Very Low). Sherburne County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Sherburne County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Sherburne 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. Sherburne County's composite score of 54 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 54% of US counties.