riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Sargent County Disaster Risk

Sargent County, North Dakota

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

7th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#37

of 53 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

3th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 17% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 2% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Sargent County

Risk Verdict

Sargent County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 7th 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 Sargent County, scoring in the 41th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 17th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (3th), earthquake (2th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Sargent 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

Sargent County is notably safer than the average county in North Dakota. Its composite risk score is 14.7 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 Sargent County, ND?
Sargent County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 7th 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 Sargent County?
Sargent County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (41th percentile), tornado (17th percentile), flooding (3th percentile), earthquake (2th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 41th 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 Sargent County risk compare to the North Dakota average?
Sargent County's composite risk percentile is 7th, compared to the North Dakota state average of 22th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Sargent County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in North Dakota.
Is Sargent County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Sargent County's wildfire risk is at the 41th percentile nationally. This is below the national median, indicating relatively lower exposure. For flooding specifically, Sargent County is at the 3th 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 Sargent County a safe place to live?
Sargent County's composite risk score of 7th 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 41th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Foster County

North Dakota

-0.0

Very Low

7th percentile

Nelson County

North Dakota

+0.5

Very Low

8th percentile

Steele County

North Dakota

-0.8

Very Low

7th 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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