riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Bottineau County Disaster Risk

Bottineau County, North Dakota

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

19th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#21

of 53 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

12th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 12% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 85% 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 12% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Bottineau County

Risk Verdict

Bottineau County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 19th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Bottineau County, scoring in the 85th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 26th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (12th), flood (12th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Bottineau 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 tornado 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

Bottineau County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in North Dakota. Its composite risk score is within 3.5 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of North Dakota as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Bottineau County, ND?
Bottineau County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 19th 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 Bottineau County?
Bottineau County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (85th percentile), tornado (26th percentile), earthquake (12th percentile), flooding (12th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 85th 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 Bottineau County risk compare to the North Dakota average?
Bottineau County's composite risk percentile is 19th, compared to the North Dakota state average of 22th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Bottineau County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in North Dakota.
Is Bottineau County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Bottineau County's wildfire risk is at the 85th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Bottineau County is at the 12th 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.
Is Bottineau County a safe place to live?
Bottineau County's composite risk score of 19th percentile is below the North Dakota state average of 22th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 85th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Ramsey County

North Dakota

-0.3

Very Low

18th percentile

Pembina County

North Dakota

+2.3

Very Low

21th percentile

Mountrail County

North Dakota

+2.7

Very Low

21th 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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