Pierce County

Wisconsin — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

42.3

National percentile: 42th

Pierce County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 42.3, 42th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $19M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $19M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 42K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Strong Wind
Medium $2M/yr
Landslide
Low $27K/yr
Hail
Medium $1M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Strong Wind Medium 4.24 / yr $2M
Landslide Low 0.27 / yr $27K
Hail Medium 5.60 / yr $1M
Tornado Medium 0.39 / yr $4M
Cold Wave Low 8.63 / yr $2M
Riverine Flood Low 0.46 / yr $9M
Lightning Low 36.41 / yr $292K
Winter Weather Low 16.63 / yr $74K
Drought Low 3.81 / yr $68K
Heat Wave Very Low 3.63 / yr $256K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.34 / yr $29K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $9K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $5K
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 Pierce County?

Pierce County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 42.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 42th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Pierce County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Medium, $2M EAL), Landslide (Low, $27K EAL), Hail (Medium, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Pierce County compare to other Wisconsin counties?

Pierce County ranks #58 of 72 Wisconsin 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. Pierce County's $19M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.