Pope County, Minnesota Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 21th
Pope County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 20.5, 21th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pope County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 20.5 out of 100 — placing it in the 21st 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 Pope County's expected losses come from winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Medium risk — $150K in expected annual loss and about 19.79 events per year; cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 13.63 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Very Low risk — $2K in expected annual loss and about 0.13 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 11K.
Beyond physical exposure, Pope County has a 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.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Pope County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 6 for flood events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding (flood), declared in July 2023.
Among 87 Minnesota counties, Pope County ranks #68 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | Medium | 19.79 / yr | $150K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 13.63 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $2K |
| Hail | Low | 3.98 / yr | $320K |
| Drought | Low | 9.51 / yr | $91K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.69 / yr | $420K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.61 / yr | $5M |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.47 / yr | $218K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $24K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.48 / yr | $588K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.35 / yr | $26K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 33.79 / yr | $59K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| 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
Pope County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023. Most frequent causes: Flood (6), Severe Storm (6), 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 |
| July 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 2001 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| April 1997 | Flood | Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe Storms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Pope County?
Pope County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 20.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 21th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Pope County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (Medium, $150K EAL), Cold Wave (Low, $2M EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $2K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Pope County compare to other Minnesota counties?
Pope County ranks #68 of 87 Minnesota counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Pope County had?
FEMA records 16 federal disaster declarations for Pope County since 1965, most often 6 for flood events and 6 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. Pope County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.