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

Mountrail County Disaster Risk

Mountrail County, North Dakota

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

21th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#19

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

Relatively Low

Higher than 79% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 33% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 6% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Mountrail County, North Dakota

Mountrail sits safely below national risk

Mountrail County's composite score of 21.37 places it in the Very Low category, indicating substantially lower disaster exposure than the typical U.S. county. The county benefits from distributed, moderate-level hazards without concentrated severe risks.

Mountrail ranks slightly below state average

At 21.37, Mountrail's score sits just below North Dakota's average of 22.19, placing it in the safer half of state counties. This near-average positioning reflects balanced, manageable hazard exposure.

Comparable to McKenzie; safer than McLean

Mountrail's 21.37 closely mirrors McKenzie County (25.03) and significantly beats McLean (43.10) and Morton (49.59) in the region. It ranks among northwestern North Dakota's more resilient counties.

Wildfire dominates; tornadoes secondary

Wildfire risk reaches 78.75 in Mountrail—the county's most significant hazard—while tornado risk is moderate at 32.54. Flood and earthquake risks are minimal by comparison.

Prioritize wildfire preparedness planning

Verify wildfire coverage in your homeowners policy and create a defensible space of at least 30 feet around structures. Maintain an evacuation kit and stay alert to seasonal fire weather conditions through local alerts.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Mountrail County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    79th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    33th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    12th percentile

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

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Mountrail County

Risk Verdict

At the 21th percentile nationally, Mountrail County experiences relatively limited natural hazard pressure compared to most of the country. Mountrail County residents can take confidence from a 21th percentile ranking, but even lower-risk counties benefit from a practiced household communication plan and awareness of the specific hazards listed above.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Mountrail County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 79th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 33th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (12th percentile), earthquake (6th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Mountrail County's dominant hazard is wildfire, ranked at the 79th percentile nationally. Maintaining at least 30 feet of lean, clean vegetation around structures in Mountrail County and keeping gutters clear of debris significantly reduces ignition risk from wind-driven embers. Alongside wildfire, tornado at the 33th percentile nationally means a multi-season preparedness mindset — fire season and flood or storm season often require different household plans. Mountrail County's households benefit from reviewing homeowners insurance before fire season, specifically whether the policy covers replacement cost rather than actual cash value, and whether it includes additional living expenses if displacement is required.

Regional Context

The county's composite score diverges by only 0.8 points from the North Dakota average, making Mountrail County's hazard profile broadly typical for this part of the state.

Is your household prepared for Mountrail 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 Mountrail County, ND?
Mountrail County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 21th 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 Mountrail County?
Mountrail County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (79th percentile), tornado (33th percentile), flooding (12th percentile), earthquake (6th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 79th 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 Mountrail County risk compare to the North Dakota average?
Mountrail County's composite risk percentile is 21th, compared to the North Dakota state average of 22th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Mountrail County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in North Dakota.
Is Mountrail County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Mountrail County's wildfire risk is at the 79th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Mountrail 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 Mountrail County a safe place to live?
Mountrail County's composite risk score of 21th 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 79th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Pembina County

North Dakota

-0.4

Very Low

21th percentile

Bottineau County

North Dakota

-2.7

Very Low

19th percentile

Benson County

North Dakota

+2.9

Very Low

24th 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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