riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Burleigh County Disaster Risk

Burleigh County, North Dakota

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

85th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#1

of 53 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

77th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 84% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 20% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Burleigh County, North Dakota

Burleigh County faces significant risk

Burleigh County scores 85.11 on the composite risk scale, placing it among the highest-risk counties in the nation and rated Relatively Moderate overall. This score reflects substantial exposure across multiple major disaster categories.

North Dakota's riskiest county

At 85.11, Burleigh County ranks as the highest-risk county in North Dakota, nearly four times the state average of 22.19. Residents experience far greater multi-hazard exposure than any other North Dakotans.

Dramatically riskier than surrounding counties

Burleigh County's 85.11 score vastly exceeds neighboring counties like Benson County (24.27) and Bottineau County (18.67). This county faces dramatically higher compound disaster risks than any surrounding area.

Triple threat: flood, wildfire, tornado

Burleigh County faces exceptionally elevated risks across three major hazards: flood (77.35), wildfire (84.13), and tornado (83.02). These overlapping seasonal threats create substantial year-round disaster exposure for residents and properties.

Comprehensive protection is essential

Burleigh County residents must prioritize comprehensive coverage including separate flood insurance (77.35 risk), wildfire protection (84.13 risk), and strong wind/hail coverage for tornadoes. Review and upgrade your policies immediately to ensure adequate protection for all three major threats.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Burleigh County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    84th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    83th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    77th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Burleigh County

Risk Verdict

Burleigh County registers a moderately elevated natural disaster risk, ranking at the 85th percentile across all U.S. counties. High composite risk signals that multiple hazard types are elevated simultaneously; planning for more than one scenario is important in Burleigh County.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Burleigh County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 84th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 83th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (77th percentile), earthquake (20th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Wildfire ranks as Burleigh County's primary hazard at the 84th percentile nationally. For Burleigh County households in high-WUI areas, go-bag readiness — the ability to leave within 15 minutes — is more important than shelter-in-place planning for most residential properties. A secondary tornado exposure at the 83th percentile nationally means Burleigh County residents face hazards from two distinct natural peril categories during different seasons. Burleigh County county's local emergency management office publishes community-specific wildfire risk assessments and evacuation zone maps; households should review their zone assignment and sign up for zone-specific alerts.

Regional Context

Burleigh County falls 62.9 points above North Dakota's typical county risk level, which means the hazard environment here is notably more demanding than the state baseline.

Is your household prepared for Burleigh County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Burleigh County, ND?
Burleigh County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 85th 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 Burleigh County?
Burleigh County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (84th percentile), tornado (83th percentile), flooding (77th percentile), earthquake (20th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 84th 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 Burleigh County risk compare to the North Dakota average?
Burleigh County's composite risk percentile is 85th, compared to the North Dakota state average of 22th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Burleigh County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in North Dakota.
Is Burleigh County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Burleigh County's wildfire risk is at the 84th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Burleigh County is at the 77th 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 Burleigh County higher risk than average?
Burleigh County's composite risk score of 85th percentile is above the North Dakota state average of 22th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (84th percentile), along with tornado and 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

Cass County

North Dakota

-2.7

Relatively Moderate

82th percentile

Ward County

North Dakota

-20.4

Relatively Low

65th percentile

Sioux County

North Dakota

-23.0

Relatively Low

62th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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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