Rock County

Wisconsin — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Medium

Composite Risk Score

86.4

National percentile: 86th

Rock County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 86.4, 86th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and tornado exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $73M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $73M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very High Capacity to recover
Population 164K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hail
High $4M/yr
Tornado
High $13M/yr
Cold Wave
High $13M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hail High 4.34 / yr $4M
Tornado High 0.58 / yr $13M
Cold Wave High 5.37 / yr $13M
Riverine Flood Medium 2.11 / yr $38M
Strong Wind High 5.46 / yr $2M
Lightning High 38.50 / yr $1M
Heat Wave Medium 3.63 / yr $2M
Winter Weather Medium 14.05 / yr $114K
Landslide Very Low 0.13 / yr $3K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $529K
Ice Storm Low 0.63 / yr $147K
Drought Low 6.60 / yr $152K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $14K
Hurricane Very Low 0.01 / yr $4K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood 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 Rock County?

Rock County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 86.4 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 86th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Rock County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (High, $4M EAL), Tornado (High, $13M EAL), Cold Wave (High, $13M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Rock County compare to other Wisconsin counties?

Rock County ranks #7 of 72 Wisconsin counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium 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. Rock County's $73M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.