Ashland County, WI
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Ashland County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Ashland County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, winter weather, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 83% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Ashland County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1965, covering 6 disaster types including flood (5), severe storm (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| 2000 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 1999 | Flood | Wi-Flood-07/20/99 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 total declarations since 1965.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 5.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 28.2 | 14 | 2 | $4K |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 14.6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 23.2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 13.8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 23.5 | 15 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 17 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 77.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 12 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 88 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 55.8 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 17.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 10.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Ashland County ranks in the 49th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 49th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 33rd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 33rd | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 50th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 80th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 10th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 10th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 63.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 34 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 29 in 2016–20 vs 5 in 2021–25 (-83% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Ashland County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Ashland County, Wisconsin are cold wave, winter weather, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Ashland County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Ashland County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (5 declarations).
Has Ashland County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Ashland County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Ashland County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Sawyer County, WI has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Iron County, WI has the lowest (Very Low). Ashland County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Ashland County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Ashland County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Ashland County's composite score of 32 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 32% of US counties.