Forest County
Wisconsin — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 47th
Forest County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 47.4, 47th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and hail exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $12M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | High | 9.05 / yr | $9M |
| Hail | Low | 1.45 / yr | $173K |
| Lightning | Low | 27.98 / yr | $128K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 17.21 / yr | $35K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.21 / yr | $220K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.56 / yr | $130K |
| Drought | Very Low | 1.39 / yr | $2K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.27 / yr | $42 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $9K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $653 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / 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 Forest County?
Forest County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 47.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 47th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Forest County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $9M EAL), Hail (Low, $173K EAL), Lightning (Low, $128K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Forest County compare to other Wisconsin counties?
Forest County ranks #53 of 72 Wisconsin counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a 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. Forest County's $12M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.