Mercer County, ND
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Mercer County has experienced 24 federally declared disasters since 1966, most recently Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Straight-Line Winds in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Mercer County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, hail, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 43 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Mercer County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1966, covering 6 disaster types including flood (13), severe storm (4), snowstorm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2023 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2010 | Flood | Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 total declarations since 1966.
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 | 61.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 16.4 | 2 | 0 | $78K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 4.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 14.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 28.5 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 75.1 | 38 | 0 | $7K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 21.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 84.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 65 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 66.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 11 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 21 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 20 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Mercer County ranks in the 33rd 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 | 33rd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 26th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 47th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 26th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 51st | Moderate |
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 | 55th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 58th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 59.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 43 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 21 in 2016–20 vs 22 in 2021–25 (+5% — relatively stable).
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 Mercer County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Mercer County, North Dakota are winter weather, hail, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Mercer County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Mercer County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is flood (13 declarations).
Has Mercer County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Mercer County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Straight-Line Winds in 2023.
How does Mercer County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Ward County, ND has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Oliver County, ND has the lowest (Very Low). Mercer County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Mercer County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Mercer 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. Mercer County's composite score of 14 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 14% of US counties.