St. Louis County
Minnesota — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 92th
St. Louis County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 91.6, 92th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $112M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Very High | 14.89 / yr | $51M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 17.56 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Very High | 27.24 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.46 / yr | $50M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 0.34 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Medium | 0.93 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $512K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.71 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Low | 0.39 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.16 / yr | $168K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 2.39 / yr | $2K |
| Drought | Low | 12.68 / yr | $89K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $9K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $3K |
| Avalanche | 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 St. Louis County?
St. Louis County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 91.6 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 92th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in St. Louis County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Very High, $51M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $1M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does St. Louis County compare to other Minnesota counties?
St. Louis County ranks #3 of 87 Minnesota 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. St. Louis County's $112M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.