riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Pennington County Disaster Risk

Pennington County, Minnesota

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

47th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#34

of 87 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

68th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 68% 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 26% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Pennington County

Risk Verdict

Pennington County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 47th 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 Pennington County, scoring in the 82th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 68th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (26th), earthquake (3th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Pennington 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

Pennington County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Minnesota. Its composite risk score is within 4.6 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Minnesota as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Pennington County, MN?
Pennington County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 47th 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 Pennington County?
Pennington County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (82th percentile), flooding (68th percentile), tornado (26th percentile), earthquake (3th 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 Pennington County risk compare to the Minnesota average?
Pennington County's composite risk percentile is 47th, compared to the Minnesota state average of 42th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Pennington County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Minnesota.
Is Pennington County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Pennington County's wildfire risk is at the 82th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Pennington County is at the 68th 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 Pennington County higher risk than average?
Pennington County's composite risk score of 47th 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

McLeod County

Minnesota

-0.4

Relatively Low

47th percentile

Wabasha County

Minnesota

-1.4

Relatively Low

46th percentile

Faribault County

Minnesota

-1.5

Relatively Low

46th 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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