Chippewa County, Minnesota Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 37th
Chippewa County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 37.0, 37th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Chippewa County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 37.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 37th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $137K in expected annual loss and about 20.37 events per year; heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $836K in expected annual loss and about 3.95 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 12.68 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 13K.
Beyond physical exposure, Chippewa County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Chippewa County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 10 for flood events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding (flood), declared in July 2023.
Among 87 Minnesota counties, Chippewa County ranks #49 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | Medium | 20.37 / yr | $137K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 3.95 / yr | $836K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 12.68 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Low | 3.93 / yr | $409K |
| Drought | Low | 7.88 / yr | $287K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.73 / yr | $533K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.50 / yr | $70K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.50 / yr | $5M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.39 / yr | $868K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.06 / yr | $672 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $16K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 34.71 / yr | $43K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $8K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Chippewa County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023. Most frequent causes: Flood (10), Severe Storm (7), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2023 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| August 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| July 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| July 2014 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2011 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| April 2010 | Flood | Flooding |
| March 2010 | Flood | Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Chippewa County?
Chippewa County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 37.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 37th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Chippewa County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (Medium, $137K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $836K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Chippewa County compare to other Minnesota counties?
Chippewa County ranks #49 of 87 Minnesota counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Chippewa County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Chippewa County since 1965, most often 10 for flood events and 7 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding, declared in July 2023.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Chippewa County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.