riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Beltrami County Disaster Risk

Beltrami County, Minnesota

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

61th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#23

of 87 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

73th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 73% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 82% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 6% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Beltrami County

Risk Verdict

Beltrami County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 61th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Beltrami County, scoring in the 82th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 73th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (41th), earthquake (6th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Beltrami County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Beltrami County is significantly riskier than the average county in Minnesota. Its composite risk score is 18.2 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Beltrami County, MN?
Beltrami County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 61th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Beltrami County?
Beltrami County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (82th percentile), flooding (73th percentile), tornado (41th percentile), earthquake (6th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 82th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Beltrami County risk compare to the Minnesota average?
Beltrami County's composite risk percentile is 61th, compared to the Minnesota state average of 42th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Beltrami County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Minnesota.
Is Beltrami County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Beltrami County's wildfire risk is at the 82th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Beltrami County is at the 73th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Beltrami County higher risk than average?
Beltrami County's composite risk score of 61th percentile is above the Minnesota state average of 42th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (82th percentile), along with flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Carver County

Minnesota

-0.9

Relatively Low

60th percentile

Pine County

Minnesota

+1.6

Relatively Low

62th percentile

Aitkin County

Minnesota

-4.0

Relatively Low

57th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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