Traverse County

Minnesota — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

6.2

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

Expected Annual Loss $4M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 3K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hail
Low $359K/yr
Winter Weather
Low $85K/yr
Cold Wave
Low $699K/yr

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

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.

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.