Midwest and mid-South: the storm record for eight inland states

The region at a glance

Storm counts come from NOAA's Storm Events Database for 2016 through 2025; declarations are major disasters since fiscal year 2000 in FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.

State by state

Minnesota

Minnesota's largest stone since 2000 fell near Chokio in Stevens County on July 31, 2024, at 6 inches. The Department of Labor and Industry says residential contractors who perform roofing work must be licensed, with an exemption for contractors under $15,000 in annual gross receipts who obtain a certificate of exemption each year.

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Iowa

Iowa's 759 tornado events rank second in this region, and 29 of its 42 major disaster declarations were for severe storms. Iowa requires construction contractors who earn at least $2,000 a year from construction to register with the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.

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Missouri

Missouri has the most 1-inch hail in the region, 3,349 events, and 38 of its 49 major disaster declarations were for severe storms. Its largest stone since 2000 measured 6 inches near Meadville on May 24, 2004.

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Illinois

Illinois leads the region for both tornado events (875) and thunderstorm wind events (6,859). The state licenses roofing contractors through its Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and its consumer brochure says a licensed roofer must put the license number on contracts, bids and building permit applications.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin has the region's fewest major disaster declarations, 22, but its biggest hail was serious: a 5.5-inch stone at Port Edwards on June 7, 2007, recorded with a $45 million damage estimate. See the directory's Wisconsin licensing page for state rules.

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Tennessee

Thirty-five of Tennessee's 49 major disaster declarations were for severe storms. The state's contractor board requires a contractor license for projects of $25,000 or more, and in nine counties a separate home improvement license covers residential jobs, roofing included, from $3,000 to $24,999.

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Arkansas

Arkansas records 208 hail events of 2 inches or larger, more than Tennessee and Kentucky combined. On residential jobs over $2,000, roofers without a builder's or remodeler's license need the Contractors Licensing Board's Residential Roofer Registration, which took effect January 1, 2022.

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Kentucky

Kentucky's 50 major disaster declarations are the most in this region, 34 of them for severe storms. Roofing isn't among the trades in the state housing department's license search, but state law sets rules for contracts paid from insurance, including a ban on offering to pay or rebate a deductible.

Kentucky roofers · Kentucky storm center · Kentucky licensing

Frequently asked questions

Which state in this region records the most tornado events?

Illinois, with 875 from 2016 through 2025 in NOAA's Storm Events Database. Remember that, per NCEI's FAQ, a tornado crossing a county line is logged as a separate segment in each county it enters.

Why do Kentucky and Tennessee have so many declarations?

The FEMA counts show that most of them were severe storms: 34 of Kentucky's 50 and 35 of Tennessee's 49. A declaration follows a governor's request and a presidential decision, as FEMA explains, so the count reflects events that went beyond what state and local governments could handle.

Where do I check a roofer's license in these states?

Start with the state lines above, then use the National Roofing Directory's licensing hub, which has a page for each of these states.