Watonwan County
Minnesota — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 24th
Watonwan County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 23.9, 24th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | Medium | 22.00 / yr | $171K |
| Drought | Medium | 12.87 / yr | $693K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 11.21 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.44 / yr | $634K |
| Hail | Low | 4.31 / yr | $314K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.34 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.16 / yr | $242K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.58 / yr | $45K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.61 / yr | $3M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $137 |
| Lightning | Very Low | 37.56 / yr | $58K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $10K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $3K |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Watonwan County?
Watonwan County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 23.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 24th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Watonwan County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (Medium, $171K EAL), Drought (Medium, $693K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Watonwan County compare to other Minnesota counties?
Watonwan County ranks #62 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. Watonwan County's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.