Milwaukee County
Wisconsin — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Milwaukee County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 98.4, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $342M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Very High | 4.89 / yr | $177M |
| Heat Wave | High | 3.11 / yr | $25M |
| Tornado | Very High | 0.40 / yr | $32M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.11 / yr | $101M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 15.84 / yr | $819K |
| Strong Wind | High | 3.13 / yr | $3M |
| Hail | Medium | 2.71 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.47 / yr | $287K |
| Lightning | Medium | 33.72 / yr | $309K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $7K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $290 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $12K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $5K |
| Drought | Very Low | 1.46 / yr | $1K |
| Avalanche | 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 Milwaukee County?
Milwaukee County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 98.4 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Milwaukee County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Very High, $177M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $25M EAL), Tornado (Very High, $32M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Milwaukee County compare to other Wisconsin counties?
Milwaukee County ranks #1 of 72 Wisconsin counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high 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. Milwaukee County's $342M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.