Natural Disaster Risk in Hillsboro

Natural Hazard Profile: Hillsboro, North Dakota

Hillsboro is a small community of about 2,239 in Traill County, in the northern tier of the continental United States. The area experiences extremely cold winters and short, warm summers with prairie wind exposure, with severe blizzards and spring flooding 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 Hillsboro.

FEMA rates Hillsboro's composite natural disaster risk at 4.4 out of 10 — moderate risk. Hailstorm risk tops the local hazard profile, driven by frequent severe thunderstorm development that produces some of the most property-damaging hail in the country. Residents should also account for ice storm and winter risk in their preparedness planning.

Hillsboro'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 Traill County, the highest-scoring are hail, ice storm, 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, Hillsboro 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 hail is recommended.