How Likely Is a Tornado in Mercer County, ND?
How likely is a tornado in Mercer County, ND?
Mercer County has recorded 22 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 3.5 years - our Moderate band. Put another way: Mercer County sees more tornado activity than 54% of US counties. Among 53 North Dakota counties in this dataset, Mercer County ranks 38 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
19 weak and 2 significant tornadoes make up Mercer County's 22-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Mercer County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. North Dakota has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for North Dakota this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
A direct hit is not required for Mercer County to lose power - outbreak-wide outages across North Dakota regularly reach homes and businesses well outside the actual tracks. A battery bank covers that gap without a generator's fuel and venting needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Mercer County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 1,043 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Mercer County has about 8,348 residents.