FEMA National Risk Index hazard
Prepare your home for cold wave
Rapid, prolonged drops to extreme cold.
341 US counties are rated Relatively High or Very High for cold wave by FEMA’s National Risk Index. The three things that matter most at home: 1. Know where the main water shutoff is and that it turns. 2. Insulate pipes in unheated crawlspaces, garages and exterior walls. 3. Have the heating system checked before winter.
Before the season
- Wrap exposed pipes with foam sleeves; seal drafts near pipes.
- Disconnect hoses and drain outdoor faucets.
- Test CO alarms and keep space heaters 3 feet from anything that burns.
When a warning comes
- Let a faucet on an exterior wall drip and open sink cabinets to let warm air reach pipes.
- Keep the thermostat at the same setting day and night.
- Keep the garage door closed if pipes run through it.
After
- If a pipe froze, shut off the water before it thaws and call a plumber.
- Never thaw pipes with an open flame.
- Check the attic and crawlspace for leaks after a hard freeze.
Ask your insurer
Ask whether water damage from a burst pipe is covered if the house was unoccupied or unheated. We explain and organize; we never predict coverage.
National Weather Service: Cold safety Checklist: original casaq guidance
Counties with the highest cold wave scores
Top 25 by FEMA NRI risk score for this hazard. Scores and ratings are relative to other US counties, not probabilities of a loss.
| # | County | Rating | Score | Recorded events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cook County, IL | Very High | 100.0 | 47 |
| 2 | Milwaukee County, WI | Very High | 100.0 | 93 |
| 3 | Hidalgo County, TX | Very High | 99.9 | 58 |
| 4 | Harris County, TX | Very High | 99.9 | 9 |
| 5 | Dallas County, TX | Very High | 99.9 | 18 |
| 6 | Hennepin County, MN | Very High | 99.8 | 170 |
| 7 | Philadelphia County, PA | Very High | 99.8 | 15 |
| 8 | Shelby County, TN | Very High | 99.8 | 32 |
| 9 | Wayne County, MI | Very High | 99.7 | 51 |
| 10 | Queens County, NY | Very High | 99.7 | 6 |
| 11 | DuPage County, IL | Very High | 99.7 | 88 |
| 12 | Cuyahoga County, OH | Very High | 99.7 | 70 |
| 13 | Will County, IL | Very High | 99.6 | 82 |
| 14 | Bronx County, NY | Very High | 99.6 | 9 |
| 15 | Erie County, NY | Very High | 99.6 | 90 |
| 16 | Miami-Dade County, FL | Very High | 99.5 | 20 |
| 17 | Cameron County, TX | Very High | 99.5 | 44 |
| 18 | Hillsborough County, FL | Very High | 99.5 | 74 |
| 19 | Lake County, IN | Very High | 99.4 | 69 |
| 20 | Galveston County, TX | Very High | 99.4 | 5 |
| 21 | St. Louis County, MN | Very High | 99.4 | 280 |
| 22 | Sedgwick County, KS | Very High | 99.3 | 30 |
| 23 | Orange County, FL | Very High | 99.3 | 74 |
| 24 | Oakland County, MI | Very High | 99.3 | 50 |
| 25 | Collier County, FL | Very High | 99.2 | 32 |