Natural Disaster Risk in McHenry County

Natural Hazard Profile: McHenry County, North Dakota

McHenry County is located in the United States in North Dakota, home to roughly 5,344 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.

FEMA rates McHenry County's composite natural disaster risk at 4.8 out of 10 — moderate risk. Severe winter storms top the local risk profile, bringing blizzard conditions, ice storms, and extreme cold that pose health risks and cause extensive property and infrastructure damage. Residents should also account for wildfire and ice storm risk in their preparedness planning.

McHenry 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 McHenry County, the highest-scoring are winter, wildfire, and ice storm. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

McHenry 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 winter exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.