Natural Disaster Risk in Motley

Natural Hazard Profile: Motley, Minnesota

Motley is a town of roughly 3,284 residents in Cass County, in the northern tier of the continental United States. The area experiences some of the harshest winters in the lower 48 and warm summers, with severe blizzards and spring tornado outbreaks shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Motley.

FEMA rates Motley's composite natural disaster risk at 5.4 out of 10 — moderate risk. Cold wave events are the primary hazard risk, driven by periodic invasions of Arctic air that drive wind chills to life-threatening levels and stress heating systems. Residents should also account for landslide and winter risk in their preparedness planning.

Motley's risk score, near the 5.2/10 state average and above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Cass County, the highest-scoring are cold wave, landslide, and winter. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

With a moderate risk rating, Motley residents are well-served by maintaining standard preparedness practices — an emergency supply kit, awareness of local hazard seasonality, and insurance that covers the top local risks. Periodic review of coverage for cold wave is recommended.