Natural Disaster Risk in Morton County

Natural Hazard Profile: Morton County, North Dakota

Morton County is located in the United States in North Dakota, home to roughly 33,242 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, Morton County carries an overall risk score of 5.6/10, placing it in the moderate category. Hail is the primary natural disaster concern, with severe storms delivering baseball-sized or larger hailstones that cause significant insured losses each year. The area also faces notable exposure to winter and ice storm.

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

With a moderate risk rating, Morton 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 hail is recommended.