Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 4th
Lake of the Woods County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 3.5, 4th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $5M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Lake of the Woods County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 3.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 4th 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 wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $121K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Low risk — $255K in expected annual loss and about 24.16 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $547 in expected annual loss and about 0.14 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $5M in expected annual loss for a population of 4K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lake of the Woods County has a very low 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). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Lake of the Woods County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 12 for flood events and 3 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding (flood), declared in July 2023.
Among 87 Minnesota counties, Lake of the Woods County ranks #85 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $121K |
| Drought | Low | 24.16 / yr | $255K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $547 |
| Winter Weather | Low | 15.90 / yr | $43K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $4M |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 17.63 / yr | $330K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.08 / yr | $25K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.63 / yr | $11K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.27 / yr | $41K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.49 / yr | $29K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 26.58 / yr | $11K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $640 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $672 |
| 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
Lake of the Woods County has received 18 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023. Most frequent causes: Flood (12), Severe Storm (3), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2023 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| July 2022 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| July 2014 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| April 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 2002 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
| May 2001 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| April 1997 | Flood | Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 18 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lake of the Woods County?
Lake of the Woods County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 3.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 4th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lake of the Woods County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Very Low, $121K EAL), Drought (Low, $255K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $547 EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lake of the Woods County compare to other Minnesota counties?
Lake of the Woods County ranks #85 of 87 Minnesota counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lake of the Woods County had?
FEMA records 18 federal disaster declarations for Lake of the Woods County since 1965, most often 12 for flood events and 3 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. Lake of the Woods County's $5M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.