Dane County
Wisconsin — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 94th
Dane County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 93.9, 94th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $182M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Very High | 5.74 / yr | $44M |
| Hail | High | 3.78 / yr | $13M |
| Tornado | High | 0.93 / yr | $26M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 3.53 / yr | $8M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.07 / yr | $84M |
| Winter Weather | High | 16.11 / yr | $710K |
| Strong Wind | High | 4.40 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | High | 37.12 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Medium | 0.45 / yr | $67K |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.62 / yr | $680K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $105K |
| Drought | Low | 3.44 / yr | $81K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $17K |
| 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 Dane County?
Dane County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 93.9 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 94th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Dane County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Very High, $44M EAL), Hail (High, $13M EAL), Tornado (High, $26M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Dane County compare to other Wisconsin counties?
Dane County ranks #2 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. Dane County's $182M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.