Traverse County, Minnesota Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 6th
Traverse County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 6.2, 6th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Traverse County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 6.2 out of 100 — placing it in the 6th 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 hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $359K in expected annual loss and about 3.74 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Low risk — $85K in expected annual loss and about 20.53 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Low risk — $699K in expected annual loss and about 14.16 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 3K.
Beyond physical exposure, Traverse County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Traverse County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 12 for flood events and 8 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding (flood), declared in July 2023.
Among 87 Minnesota counties, Traverse County ranks #81 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | Low | 3.74 / yr | $359K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 20.53 / yr | $85K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 14.16 / yr | $699K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.72 / yr | $344K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.27 / yr | $17K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.39 / yr | $218K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $99 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.37 / yr | $48K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.82 / yr | $2M |
| Lightning | Very Low | 32.43 / yr | $18K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | 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
Traverse County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2023. Most frequent causes: Flood (12), Severe Storm (8), 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 |
| June 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| July 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| May 2011 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| April 2010 | Flood | Flooding |
| March 2010 | Flood | Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Traverse County?
Traverse County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 6.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 6th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Traverse County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Low, $359K EAL), Winter Weather (Low, $85K EAL), Cold Wave (Low, $699K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Traverse County compare to other Minnesota counties?
Traverse County ranks #81 of 87 Minnesota counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Traverse County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Traverse County since 1965, most often 12 for flood events and 8 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. Traverse County's $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.