riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Ransom County Disaster Risk

Ransom County, North Dakota

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

13th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#26

of 53 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

14th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 14% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 60% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 24% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Ransom County

Risk Verdict

Ransom County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 13th 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 Ransom County, scoring in the 60th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 24th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (14th), earthquake (3th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Ransom 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

Ransom County is notably safer than the average county in North Dakota. Its composite risk score is 9 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Ransom County, ND?
Ransom County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 13th 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 Ransom County?
Ransom County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (60th percentile), tornado (24th percentile), flooding (14th percentile), earthquake (3th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 60th 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 Ransom County risk compare to the North Dakota average?
Ransom County's composite risk percentile is 13th, compared to the North Dakota state average of 22th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Ransom County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in North Dakota.
Is Ransom County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Ransom County's wildfire risk is at the 60th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Ransom County is at the 14th 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 Ransom County a safe place to live?
Ransom County's composite risk score of 13th 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 60th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Golden Valley County

North Dakota

-0.1

Very Low

13th percentile

Mercer County

North Dakota

+0.7

Very Low

14th percentile

Cavalier County

North Dakota

-1.4

Very Low

12th 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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