Taylor County

Wisconsin — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

37.2

National percentile: 37th

Taylor County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 37.2, 37th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $11M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $11M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 20K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Cold Wave
Medium $4M/yr
Lightning
Medium $519K/yr
Hail
Low $244K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Cold Wave Medium 8.74 / yr $4M
Lightning Medium 32.30 / yr $519K
Hail Low 2.25 / yr $244K
Tornado Low 0.32 / yr $1M
Ice Storm Low 0.19 / yr $65K
Riverine Flood Low 0.36 / yr $5M
Winter Weather Low 16.89 / yr $35K
Heat Wave Very Low 1.47 / yr $140K
Strong Wind Low 1.93 / yr $277K
Drought Very Low 0.31 / yr $3K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $5K
Landslide Very Low 0.15 / yr $17
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $4K
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 Taylor County?

Taylor County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 37.2 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 37th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Taylor County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Medium, $4M EAL), Lightning (Medium, $519K EAL), Hail (Low, $244K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Taylor County compare to other Wisconsin counties?

Taylor County ranks #60 of 72 Wisconsin 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. Taylor County's $11M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.