Chippewa County

Minnesota — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

37.0

National percentile: 37th

Chippewa County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 37.0, 37th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $10M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very High Capacity to recover
Population 13K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Winter Weather
Medium $137K/yr
Heat Wave
Low $836K/yr
Cold Wave
Medium $2M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Winter Weather Medium 20.37 / yr $137K
Heat Wave Low 3.95 / yr $836K
Cold Wave Medium 12.68 / yr $2M
Hail Low 3.93 / yr $409K
Drought Low 7.88 / yr $287K
Strong Wind Medium 2.73 / yr $533K
Ice Storm Low 0.50 / yr $70K
Riverine Flood Low 0.50 / yr $5M
Tornado Low 0.39 / yr $868K
Landslide Very Low 0.06 / yr $672
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $16K
Lightning Very Low 34.71 / yr $43K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $8K
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 Chippewa County?

Chippewa County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 37.0 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 Chippewa County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (Medium, $137K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $836K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Chippewa County compare to other Minnesota counties?

Chippewa County ranks #49 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. Chippewa County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.