Morton County
North Dakota — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 50th
Morton County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 49.6, 50th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $26M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | High | 2.65 / yr | $5M |
| Winter Weather | High | 19.47 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.88 / yr | $967K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 14.32 / yr | $6M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $375K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.55 / yr | $3M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.74 / yr | $915K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.68 / yr | $8M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.55 / yr | $933 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.00 / yr | $192K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 31.16 / yr | $131K |
| Drought | Very Low | 17.65 / yr | $14K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $11K |
| 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 Morton County?
Morton County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 49.6 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 50th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Morton County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (High, $5M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $1M EAL), Ice Storm (High, $967K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Morton County compare to other North Dakota counties?
Morton County ranks #8 of 53 North Dakota counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a 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. Morton County's $26M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.