Cold wave risk by county
Spells of extreme cold that strain power grids and freeze pipes, even in places that rarely see them.
Highest expected losses
| # | County | Rating | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cook County, IL | $700M | |
| 2 | Milwaukee County, WI | $177M | |
| 3 | Harris County, TX | $118M | |
| 4 | Hennepin County, MN | $102M | |
| 5 | Dallas County, TX | $98M | |
| 6 | Hidalgo County, TX | $88M | |
| 7 | DuPage County, IL | $72M | |
| 8 | Will County, IL | $72M | |
| 9 | Shelby County, TN | $62M | |
| 10 | Wayne County, MI | $60M | |
| 11 | Philadelphia County, PA | $57M | |
| 12 | Oakland County, MI | $55M | |
| 13 | Hillsborough County, FL | $54M | |
| 14 | Galveston County, TX | $53M | |
| 15 | Erie County, NY | $53M |
Big counties lead this list partly because they have more people and buildings at risk.
Highest per resident
| # | County (100,000+ people) | Per person a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis County, MN | $253 |
| 2 | Marathon County, WI | $199 |
| 3 | Milwaukee County, WI | $188 |
| 4 | Kendall County, IL | $175 |
| 5 | La Crosse County, WI | $156 |
| 6 | McLean County, IL | $154 |
| 7 | Galveston County, TX | $151 |
| 8 | Kenosha County, WI | $147 |
| 9 | Flathead County, MT | $138 |
| 10 | Peoria County, IL | $137 |
Expected yearly loss divided by population. A fairer way to compare places of different size.
Lowest risk among large counties
| # | County (250,000+ people) | Rating | Per person a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washoe County, NV | under $1 | |
| 2 | Santa Barbara County, CA | under $1 | |
| 3 | Clark County, NV | under $1 | |
| 4 | Thurston County, WA | under $1 | |
| 5 | Pima County, AZ | under $1 | |
| 6 | San Diego County, CA | under $1 | |
| 7 | Los Angeles County, CA | under $1 | |
| 8 | Pinal County, AZ | under $1 | |
| 9 | Kern County, CA | under $1 | |
| 10 | Riverside County, CA | under $1 |
How ratings are spread
The lists above show only the top counties, so they are all rated high. Across all 3,077 rated counties, most are Low or Very Low:
How to prepare
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Have a safe backup heat plan; never run a generator indoors.
States where it is most often the top hazard
Common questions
Which US county has the highest cold wave risk?
Cook County, IL has the highest expected yearly cold wave losses in FEMA's National Risk Index, about $700 million a year. Milwaukee County, WI is second at $177 million.
How many counties face cold wave risk?
FEMA rates cold wave in 3,077 of 3,144 counties in the 50 states and DC. 39 are rated Very High and 302 Relatively High.
Is cold wave covered by home insurance?
Usually yes for damage to the home, but check deductibles. Some states and insurers use separate wind, hail or hurricane deductibles.
Other hazards
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025). Expected annual loss is FEMA's long-run estimate of yearly damage to buildings, people and farm output, in dollars.