Dickinson County Courthouse, Spirit Lake, Iowa

Federally Declared Disasters

Dickinson County has seen at least sixteen federally declared disasters since 1965 for everything from flooding and severe summer storms to blizzards and ice storms. Of the sixteen known declarations, ten have occurred since 2000. The most common type of assistance under a Major Disaster Declaration is Public Assistance which is Assistance to State, Tribal, and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.

When there is significant and numerous damages to private properties, FEMA may open up federal Individual Assistance to persons who were affected by the disaster. This may include Individuals and Households Program, Crisis Counseling Program, Disaster Case Management, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Disaster Legal Services, and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

You can learn more about the Disaster Declaration Process on the FEMA website.

Major flooding in 2018 resulted in a Federal Disaster Declaration for Dickinson County.

Federally Declared Disasters for Dickinson County

23 Mar 2020

Iowa COVID-19 Pandemic (DR-4483)

Incident period: January 20, 2020 and continuing
Major Disaster Declaration declared on March 23, 2020

23 Mar 2020

23 Mar 2019

Iowa Severe Storms And Flooding (DR-4421)

Incident period: March 12, 2019 to June 15, 2019
Major Disaster Declaration declared on March 23, 2019

20 Aug 2018

Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding (DR-4386)

Incident period: June 06, 2018 to July 02, 2018
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 20, 2018

20 Aug 2018

24 Jul 2014

Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4184)

Incident period: June 14, 2014 to June 23, 2014
Major Disaster Declaration declared on July 24, 2014

06 May 2013

Iowa Severe Winter Storm (DR-4114)

Incident period: April 09, 2013 to April 11, 2013
Major Disaster Declaration declared on May 06, 2013

06 May 2013

24 Aug 2011

Iowa Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4016)

Incident period: July 09, 2011 to July 14, 2011
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 24, 2011

29 Jul 2010

Iowa Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (DR-1930)

Incident period: June 01, 2010 to August 31, 2010
Major Disaster Declaration declared on July 29, 2010

29 Jul 2010

25 Feb 2010

Iowa Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm (DR-1877)

Incident period: December 23, 2009 to December 27, 2009
Major Disaster Declaration declared on February 25, 2010

30 Mar 2007

Iowa Snow (EM-3275)

Incident period: February 28, 2007 to March 02, 2007
Emergency Declaration declared on March 30, 2007

30 Mar 2007

10 Sep 2005

Iowa Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (EM-3239)

Incident period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005
Emergency Declaration declared on September 10, 2005

02 Jul 1998

Iowa Severe Weather, Tornadoes and Flooding (DR-1230)

Incident period: June 13, 1998 to July 15, 1998
Major Disaster Declaration declared on July 02, 1998

02 Jul 1998

09 Jul 1993

Iowa Flooding, Severe Storm (DR-996) Flood of '93

Incident period: April 13, 1993 to October 01, 1993
Major Disaster Declaration declared on July 09, 1993

26 Dec 1991

Iowa Ice Storm (DR-928)

Incident period: October 31, 1991 to November 29, 1991
Major Disaster Declaration declared on December 26, 1991

26 Dec 1991

14 Aug 1969

Iowa Heavy Rains, Flooding (DR-269)

Incident period: August 14, 1969
Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 14, 1969

25 Apr 1969

Iowa FLOODING (DR-259)

Incident period: April 25, 1969
Major Disaster Declaration declared on April 25, 1969

25 Apr 1969

22 Apr 1965

Iowa FLOODING (DR-193)

Incident period: April 22, 1965
Major Disaster Declaration declared on April 22, 1965

Note: Some of the disaster declarations listed on FEMA's website don't state which counties were included, so we have no way of knowing if Dickinson County was included or not. The county has likely been involved in more declarations that what is listed here.