Natural Disaster Risk in Mower County

Natural Hazard Profile: Mower County, Minnesota

Mower County is located in the United States in Minnesota, home to roughly 40,028 residents. The county experiences some of the harshest winters in the lower 48 and warm summers, with severe blizzards and spring tornado outbreaks shaping the natural hazards faced by its communities. FEMA assesses risk at this county level, providing the baseline for every city and ZIP code within its boundaries.

FEMA rates Mower County's composite natural disaster risk at 5.5 out of 10 — moderate risk. The area faces significant drought exposure, where below-average precipitation over extended periods strains water resources and drives secondary hazards like wildfire and crop failure. Residents should also account for hail and tornado risk in their preparedness planning.

Mower County'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 Mower County, the highest-scoring are drought, hail, and tornado. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Mower County's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that drought exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.