How to prepare for weather and climate disasters

What would your family do in a disaster?

Making a disaster plan is a great opportunity to talk to the whole family about different types of disasters and what to do. It's important to talk to your children, no matter their age. Even small children need to know the plan. Make sure they have enough information, know what to expect and reassure them without scaring them. Remember, avoiding the topic will not prevent the disaster from happening. 

For the whole family

The American Red Cross offers a 3-step disaster preparedness plan.

If you have small children

The Sesame Workshop explains how to talk to kids about emergencies and build a kid-friendly emergency kit.

If you are caring for older adults

These tips are specifically for working with seniors in an emergency situation

Practicing your plan

The key part of making your disaster plan work when you really need it is to practice it as a family. 

Plan a test run of the evacuation strategy. Practice it until everyone can do it perfectly and revisit your plan often. Practice will allow your family to maximize their safety in the event of a disaster.

An up-to-date household and property inventory is a valuable resource for documenting losses. 

The initial time investment in preparing the inventory may seem significant. But once completed — and with regular updates — the inventory will be useful for a long time.

Before a disaster, the inventory will help you determine if you have enough or the right type of insurance to cover the contents of your home and property. After a disaster, it will help prove the value of damaged or destroyed possessions. This is helpful for insurance, assistance, or tax deduction purposes. 

1. Take photos or videos

Start by documenting any area in your home or garage that has valuable items. 

Photos 

• Photograph open closets, cabinets, cupboards and drawers.

• Take close-ups of unique or expensive items to document their existence and condition. 

• Be sure to include dates on the photos.

Videos

• Verbally describe the contents as you go through each room. 

2. Write down your inventory 

Next use an inventory form to document valuable items. Keep a digital copy in a cloud-based file system or email it to yourself. 

3. Store everything away from your house

Photographs and video files should be kept with the inventory in a location away from your house and garage, such as a bank safe deposit box.

4. Keep your inventory updated

Remember to keep all copies up-to-date and compare them on a semi-annual basis.

More resources

• Minnesota Commerce Department: Preparing for a natural disaster

What damage is covered by your insurance?

Did you know there's typically a 30-day waiting period before a new insurance policy goes into effect, and few insurance policies cover the cost of all damages, no matter what the cause?

Homeowners

Start by reviewing what your current insurance policies cover. If you have questions or concerns, discuss them with your insurance agent. You may decide you need additional coverage.

Property insurance will usually include some coverage for “fire or lightning damage” and/or “wind and hail damage,” which is typical damage from tornadoes. You may need to purchase additional coverage to be adequately covered.

Notably, standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. To protect your home from rising water, flash floods, or muddy runoff, you will need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy, typically offered through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer. 

Renters

Renters insurance covers your personal property and is usually not very expensive to purchase. If you do not have renters insurance, ask your vehicle's insurance agent about the cost of adding on renters insurance. 

How are damage claims paid?

To be better prepared, ask your insurance agent:

• Will the claims on your policies be paid based on replacement cost or current market value? 

• Will the reimbursement cover the total replacement cost or just a given percentage of the replacement cost?

By checking out how your property is insured, you will be better prepared for disaster when it happens.

An emergency fund is very useful for meeting immediate needs after a disaster.

Why should you start an emergency fund?

Savings are an important part of managing money and protecting a family. Two types of savings make up your emergency fund.

Set-aside savings

Money set aside for non-monthly, periodic expenses. Build set-aside savings into your monthly spending plan and keep that money in a designated savings account to draw upon when needed. It might be money to replace a broken appliance, repair a tire, or travel to a sick relative.

Emergency income savings

Money put aside to pay for essentials in case you lose your job or have a reduced income. Emergency savings are typically equal to 3 to 6 months of income, which gives you time to get back on track. This includes money for:

• Rent or mortgage
• Utilities
• Car payment
• Car insurance

This money could prevent eviction or foreclosure, or car repossession.

People often do not save because it seems impossible to put enough money aside. It is still important to save on a regular basis so you have enough money for emergencies. Even a couple of dollars a month can help you get started.

Getting started with an emergency fund

If you do not have a current budget or spending plan, it may be hard to decide how much you can afford to put into an emergency fund.

If you already have a tight budget, there are two major ways for finding money to save:

• Cutting expenses.
• Increasing income.

Keeping emergency funds in a dedicated account at a bank or credit union ensures your money is safe, growing, and ready when you need it. When planning for a disaster, consider these quick tips:

Keep it separate

A dedicated account prevents you from accidentally dipping into emergency funds for everyday expenses.

Prioritize liquidity

Choose an account that allows for instant withdrawals or debit card access so you aren't waiting days for funds to transfer during a crisis.

Have a backup

Consider keeping a small amount of cash in a secure, waterproof home safe, as ATMs and credit card systems may be down during a widespread power outage.

Know your evacuation destination and the likely route you’d take to get there.

Before evacuation

Many areas have designated evacuation zones and predetermined evacuation routes. Learn your local plans by visiting your state and county emergency management websites. 

Develop a home emergency plan with at least two ways out of your house, and identify primary and secondary evacuation routes from your community.

If requested to evacuate

• Turn off non-essential utilities.

• Leave lights on for visibility.

• Leave doors unlocked for emergency personnel.

• Take your emergency kit.

You may need to adjust plans depending on the nature of the threat or disaster. 

Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Remember, just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away. Stay off bridges over fast-moving water.

In parts of the state that have a higher risk of wildfires, follow the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Firewise guidelines, including leaving properties accessible for firefighters.

When emergencies strike, public safety officials use timely and reliable systems to alert you.

Wireless alerts

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short emergency alerts authorities can send to any WEA-enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area. WEAs are not affected by network congestion and will not disrupt texts, calls, or in-progress data sessions. 

You are not charged for receiving WEAs, and there is no need to subscribe, but you should check to make sure they are not disabled on your phone. 

Some mobile service providers call these messages “Government Alerts,” or “Emergency Alert Messages.”

Local alerts

Many local governments have their own emergency alert systems. Check with your city, town or county for more information.

National alerts

You can also receive weather information through NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR), a nationwide network of radio stations that broadcast continuous weather information from the nearest National Weather Service office based on your physical location.

Stay bins are intended for situations where the safest response to an emergency is to shelter in place. 

General

• 1 gallon water per person, per day (7-day supply)
• Non-perishable foods that do not require cooking or refrigeration (3-day supply per person)
• Extra cash
• Copies of personal documents:
  • Identification
  • Birth certificates
  • Insurance policies
  • Medical information
  • Home deed

Health

• First aid kit
  • Bandages
  • Scissors
  • Latex gloves
  • Towelettes
  • Thermometer
  • CPR barrier
  • Instruction booklet
  • Hand sanitizer
• Prescription medications and commonly taken medications, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen (7-day supply)
• Sanitation wipes
• Hygiene supplies
  • Feminine products
  • Soap
  • Toothbrush

Equipment and tools

• Cell phones with chargers and backup cell phone battery
• Maps (local and state)
• Flashlight (battery, crank, or solar powered)
• National weather service radio (battery, crank, or solar powered)
• Spare batteries
• Whistle to signal for help
• Multi-purpose tool
• Dust mask
• Matches
• Fire extinguisher

Clothing and warmth

• Rain gear
• Work gloves
• Extra clothing
• Towels
• Emergency blanket
• Sleeping bag

Go bags are intended for situations where the safest response to an emergency is to evacuate where you are. 

General

• 1 gallon water per person, per day
• Non-perishable foods that do not require cooking or refrigeration (3-day supply per person)
• Extra cash
• Copies of personal documents in a grab-and-go emergency file, including:
  • Identification
  • Birth certificates
  • Insurance policies
  • Medical information
  • Home deed

Health

• First aid kit
  • Bandages
  • Scissors
  • Latex gloves
  • Towelettes
  • Thermometer
  • CPR barrier
  • Instruction booklet
  • Hand sanitizer
• Prescription medications and commonly taken medications, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen (7-day supply)
• Sanitation wipes
• Hygiene supplies
  • Feminine products
  • Soap
  • Toothbrush

Equipment and tools

• Cell phones with chargers and backup cell phone battery
• Maps (local and state)
• Flashlight (battery, crank, or solar powered)
• National weather service radio (battery, crank, or solar powered)
• Spare batteries
• Whistle to signal for help
• Multi-purpose tool
• Dust mask
• Matches
• Small shovel

Clothing and warmth

• Rain gear
• Work gloves
• Extra clothing
• Towels
• Emergency blanket
• Sleeping bag

Minnesota has experienced, on average, an increase of 3.4 inches of precipitation per year from 1895 and 2025.

The largest single rain event has grown by 13%, and the state is now experiencing more frequent and intense heavy rainfall events than ever recorded. 

Heavy rainfall can overwhelm existing stormwater systems, sump pumps, roadways and other infrastructure. Rapid fluctuations in temperature can also trigger large volumes of snowmelt, a risk factor for flooding in Minnesota. 

To assess the current vulnerability of your specific property, consider referencing FEMA’s flood maps online at the Flood Map Service Center. Note, however, that these maps are currently based on historic climate trends, and do not reflect expected increases in precipitation and streamflow in the future.

In general, climate change is driving hotter weather and more evaporative demand creating a “thirstier” atmosphere that can dry up vegetation, intensify wildfire growth, and extend the wildfire season.

In addition, according to our research, the “weather whiplash” of heavy precipitation followed by periods of drought will become more frequent in Minnesota. Combined with warmer temperatures and increased pest and disease pressure, this trend may stress ecosystems, forests and vegetation—contributing to favorable fire conditions. 

More densely forested landscapes, particularly in northern areas of the state, are generally more prone to wildfire.

There is some evidence that climate change will make severe thunderstorms more frequent and intense in Minnesota, with the severe thunderstorm season expanding into more of the calendar year.

• Large, damaging hail is projected to become more frequent.

• Thunderstorm wind gusts are projected to become more intense.

• There is growing evidence that long-lived windstorms, like derechos, may become more damaging in the future.

• Trends in future tornadoes, however, remain uncertain.

Minnesota's winters are warming faster than any other season. 

Already, since 1895, Minnesota’s statewide average low temperature has increased by nearly 7°F. That’s a major shift, and the trend is expected to continue. 

By 2060, we project most of the state will see up to two fewer weeks per year with reliable snow cover (more than an inch on the ground), depending on global emissions.

• Minnesota will still experience dangerous cold events, though less frequently than in the past. 

• Heavy snow events will likely become more common, and shifting frequent freeze-thaw patterns may create new challenges for homes, landscapes and infrastructure.

Between 1895 and 2025, the average annual temperature in Minnesota has increased by 3.4°F. 

Warming has accelerated in recent years. In the future, extremes above 90°F and 100°F are projected to become more frequent.

Temperatures vary significantly across the state. According to our research, southern counties will see up to 60 days with highs above 90°F — and up to 12 days with highs above 100°F — by the 2060s. 

Northeastern areas, which historically have rarely experienced extreme heat, will regularly experience a few days each year in the 90s, and even above 100°F, in that same time frame.

These projections don’t account for humidity, which can increase the risk of heat illnesses and public health impacts. Areas along Lake Superior are expected to have more moderate temperature increases.