Ramsey County, Minnesota Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MN
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 95th
Ramsey County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 94.6, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $181M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Ramsey County carries a high composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 94.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 95th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Very High risk — $43M in expected annual loss and about 8.84 events per year; hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at High risk — $12M in expected annual loss and about 6.33 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at High risk — $36M in expected annual loss and about 0.13 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $181M in expected annual loss for a population of 552K.
Beyond physical exposure, Ramsey 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: Ramsey County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 9 for flood events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in April 2020.
Among 87 Minnesota counties, Ramsey County ranks #2 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Very High | 8.84 / yr | $43M |
| Hail | High | 6.33 / yr | $12M |
| Tornado | High | 0.13 / yr | $36M |
| Landslide | High | 0.06 / yr | $980K |
| Heat Wave | High | 6.68 / yr | $17M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 0.71 / yr | $69M |
| Winter Weather | High | 16.53 / yr | $532K |
| Strong Wind | High | 4.57 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Medium | 35.52 / yr | $610K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.46 / yr | $189K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $60K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $73K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.59 / yr | $11 |
| 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
Ramsey County has received 19 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Flood (9), Severe Storm (5), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 2001 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| June 2000 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 19 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Ramsey County?
Ramsey County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 94.6 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Ramsey County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Very High, $43M EAL), Hail (High, $12M EAL), Tornado (High, $36M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Ramsey County compare to other Minnesota counties?
Ramsey County ranks #2 of 87 Minnesota counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Ramsey County had?
FEMA records 19 federal disaster declarations for Ramsey County since 1965, most often 9 for flood events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in April 2020.
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. Ramsey County's $181M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.