Marathon County
Wisconsin — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 87th
Marathon County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 87.2, 87th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $75M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | High | 8.79 / yr | $27M |
| Lightning | High | 31.86 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Medium | 2.21 / yr | $2M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 0.79 / yr | $36M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.60 / yr | $6M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 16.21 / yr | $155K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 1.37 / yr | $745K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.21 / yr | $3K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.19 / yr | $147K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.12 / yr | $753K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $29K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $27K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | 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 Marathon County?
Marathon County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 87.2 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 87th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Marathon County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $27M EAL), Lightning (High, $2M EAL), Hail (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Marathon County compare to other Wisconsin counties?
Marathon County ranks #5 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. Marathon County's $75M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.