Slope County, ND
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Slope County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 1978, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Slope County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, cold wave, and drought, with its top risk rated "Very Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 57% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (1st percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Slope County has been designated in 10 declarations since 1978, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (3), biological (2), snowstorm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2006 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Record And/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Blizzard Conditions |
| 1997 | Flood | Severe Flooding,Severe Winter Storms, Snowmelt, Spring Rains |
| 1978 | Flood | Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 1978 | Snowstorm | Blizzard & Snowstorms |
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 | 38 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 14.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 5.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 21.6 | 30 | 0 | $352K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 7.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 21.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 14.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 32.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 1.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 23.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 8 | 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
Slope County ranks in the 1st percentile (Very 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 | 1st | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 10th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 14th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 3rd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 1st | Very low |
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 | 61st | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 62nd | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 76.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 30 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 21 in 2016–20 vs 9 in 2021–25 (-57% — 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 Slope County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Slope County, North Dakota are wildfire, cold wave, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Slope County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Slope County has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (3 declarations).
Has Slope County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Slope County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Slope County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Stark County, ND has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Billings County, ND has the lowest (Very Low). Slope County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Slope County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Slope 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. Slope County's composite score of 1 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 1% of US counties.