Natural Disaster Risk in McLean County

Natural Hazard Profile: McLean County, North Dakota

McLean County is located in the United States in North Dakota, home to roughly 9,755 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, McLean County carries an overall risk score of 5.5/10, placing it in the moderate category. The area faces significant winter hazard exposure, with nor'easters, ice storms, or blizzards regularly challenging transportation networks and power infrastructure. The area also faces notable exposure to hail and cold wave.

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

McLean 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.