Winter weather risk by county
Snowstorms and blizzards that close roads, bring down trees and cut power.
Highest expected losses
| # | County | Rating | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson County, KS | $6M | |
| 2 | El Paso County, CO | $5M | |
| 3 | Cook County, IL | $4M | |
| 4 | Cass County, ND | $4M | |
| 5 | Gallatin County, MT | $4M | |
| 6 | Montgomery County, PA | $3M | |
| 7 | Cumberland County, ME | $3M | |
| 8 | Burleigh County, ND | $3M | |
| 9 | Ada County, ID | $3M | |
| 10 | Penobscot County, ME | $3M | |
| 11 | Baltimore County, MD | $3M | |
| 12 | Ward County, ND | $3M | |
| 13 | New Castle County, DE | $2M | |
| 14 | Cascade County, MT | $2M | |
| 15 | Montgomery County, MD | $2M |
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 | Gallatin County, MT | $30 |
| 2 | Cass County, ND | $21 |
| 3 | Penobscot County, ME | $19 |
| 4 | Potter County, TX | $18 |
| 5 | Randall County, TX | $16 |
| 6 | Yellowstone County, MT | $14 |
| 7 | Laramie County, WY | $11 |
| 8 | Cumberland County, ME | $11 |
| 9 | Douglas County, KS | $11 |
| 10 | Shawnee County, KS | $10 |
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 | San Francisco County, CA | under $1 | |
| 2 | Marion County, FL | under $1 | |
| 3 | Orange County, CA | under $1 | |
| 4 | Ventura County, CA | under $1 | |
| 5 | Santa Barbara County, CA | under $1 | |
| 6 | Santa Clara County, CA | under $1 | |
| 7 | Alameda County, CA | under $1 | |
| 8 | Sacramento County, CA | under $1 | |
| 9 | San Mateo County, CA | under $1 | |
| 10 | Duval County, FL | under $1 |
How ratings are spread
The lists above show only the top counties, so they are all rated high. Across all 3,108 rated counties, most are Low or Very Low:
How to prepare
- Keep a winter kit in the car.
- Have food, water and medicine for several days at home.
- Check roof snow load on flat or older roofs.
Common questions
Which US county has the highest winter weather risk?
Johnson County, KS has the highest expected yearly winter weather losses in FEMA's National Risk Index, about $6 million a year. El Paso County, CO is second at $5.5 million.
How many counties face winter weather risk?
FEMA rates winter weather in 3,108 of 3,144 counties in the 50 states and DC. 111 are rated Very High and 356 Relatively High.
Is winter weather 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.