Natural Disaster Risk in Winona County

Natural Hazard Profile: Winona County, Minnesota

Winona County is located in the United States in Minnesota, home to roughly 49,579 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.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Winona County carries an overall risk score of 5.6/10, placing it in the moderate category. Slope instability and debris flows are the primary natural hazard, driven by a combination of local geology, precipitation intensity, and terrain that creates susceptibility to failure. The area also faces notable exposure to hail and cold wave.

Winona 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 Winona County, the highest-scoring are landslide, hail, and cold wave. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Winona 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 landslide exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.