Houston County
Minnesota — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
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
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 |
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.
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.