Waushara County

Wisconsin — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Low

Composite Risk Score

43.3

National percentile: 43th

Waushara County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 43.3, 43th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and cold wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $14M.

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

Expected Annual Loss $14M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Medium Capacity to recover
Population 25K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hail
Medium $2M/yr
Cold Wave
Medium $3M/yr
Strong Wind
Medium $773K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hail Medium 2.86 / yr $2M
Cold Wave Medium 6.53 / yr $3M
Strong Wind Medium 2.99 / yr $773K
Tornado Low 0.38 / yr $2M
Landslide Very Low 0.12 / yr $2K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $53K
Riverine Flood Low 0.39 / yr $6M
Heat Wave Low 1.68 / yr $291K
Drought Low 1.80 / yr $91K
Winter Weather Low 15.42 / yr $36K
Lightning Low 33.79 / yr $104K
Ice Storm Very Low 0.26 / yr $23K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $14K
Hurricane Very Low 0.01 / yr $2K
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 Waushara County?

Waushara County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 43.3 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 43th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Waushara County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Medium, $2M EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $3M EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $773K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Waushara County compare to other Wisconsin counties?

Waushara County ranks #57 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. Waushara County's $14M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.