Houston County, Minnesota Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 30th
Houston County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 29.5, 30th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Houston County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 29.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 30th 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.
Most of Houston County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $72K in expected annual loss and about 0.61 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $704K in expected annual loss and about 3.94 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 7.63 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $14M in expected annual loss for a population of 19K.
Beyond physical exposure, Houston County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Houston County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 9 for flood events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding (flood), declared in June 2024.
Among 87 Minnesota counties, Houston County ranks #55 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 0.61 / yr | $72K |
| Hail | Low | 3.94 / yr | $704K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 7.63 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.32 / yr | $9M |
| Drought | Low | 6.82 / yr | $122K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.28 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.84 / yr | $267K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 17.47 / yr | $42K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 37.03 / yr | $119K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 3.22 / yr | $229K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.28 / yr | $19K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Houston County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2024. Most frequent causes: Flood (9), Severe Storm (6), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| July 2023 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| November 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| July 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| July 2010 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| June 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| August 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and 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 Houston County?
Houston County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 29.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 30th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Houston County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $72K EAL), Hail (Low, $704K EAL), Cold Wave (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Houston County compare to other Minnesota counties?
Houston County ranks #55 of 87 Minnesota counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Houston County had?
FEMA records 21 federal disaster declarations for Houston County since 1965, most often 9 for flood events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding, declared in June 2024.
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. Houston County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.