Natural Disaster Risk in Cavalier County

Natural Hazard Profile: Cavalier County, North Dakota

Cavalier County is located in the United States in North Dakota, home to roughly 3,703 residents. The county experiences extremely cold winters and short, warm summers with prairie wind exposure, with severe blizzards and spring flooding 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, Cavalier County carries an overall risk score of 4.8/10, placing it in the moderate category. The area faces significant ice storm exposure, where the thermal profile of the atmosphere during winter storms frequently delivers freezing rain rather than snow. The area also faces notable exposure to winter and cold wave.

Cavalier County's risk score, near the 4.7/10 state average and near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Cavalier County, the highest-scoring are ice storm, winter, and cold wave. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

With a moderate risk rating, Cavalier County 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 ice storm is recommended.