Steele County, MN
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Steele County has experienced 17 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Severe Storms And Flooding in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Steele County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, hail, and tornado, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 47% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Steele County has been designated in 17 declarations since 1965, covering 7 disaster types including flood (6), severe storm (5), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2017 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2014 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2010 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 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 | 10.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 42.2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 9.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 25.5 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 71 | 7 | 0 | $106K |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 77.3 | 21 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 79.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 43.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 18.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 55.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 20.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 64.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 31.5 | 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
Steele County ranks in the 31st percentile (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 | 31st | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 16th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 52nd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 43rd | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 52nd | Moderate |
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 | 6th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 8th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 28.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 37 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 15 in 2016–20 vs 22 in 2021–25 (+47% — 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 Steele County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Steele County, Minnesota are strong wind, hail, and tornado. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Steele County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Steele County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is flood (6 declarations).
Has Steele County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Steele County include Severe Storms And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Steele County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Rice County, MN has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Dodge County, MN has the lowest (Very Low). Steele County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Steele County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Steele 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. Steele County's composite score of 37 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 37% of US counties.