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North Dakota natural disaster risk

Ratings for all 53 counties, the federal disaster record and flood insurance across the state.

61major disasters since 1953 (21th most)
$565Mexpected losses a year
2%of homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

North Dakota has had 61 major federal disaster declarations for natural events since 1953. FEMA expects about $565 million a year in losses from natural hazards across the state. Cold wave is the costliest hazard in 39 of its 53 counties, followed by inland flooding in 12. None is rated Very High overall. About 2% of homes carry federal flood insurance, and the program has paid $258 million on 13,067 claims here since 1978.

Very High0counties
High0counties
Moderate2counties
Low10counties

Highest overall risk

1Burleigh CountyModerate
2Cass CountyModerate
3Ward CountyLow
4Sioux CountyLow
5Grand Forks CountyLow

Lowest risk (50,000+ people)

1Grand Forks CountyLow
2Ward CountyLow
3Cass CountyModerate
4Burleigh CountyModerate

Top hazards

Cold wavetop risk in 39 counties
Inland floodingtop risk in 12 counties
Strong windtop risk in 1 counties

Recent federal declarations

All states ›
Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster

Largest counties

Cass County

184,441 people

Moderate Inland flooding

Burleigh County

98,437 people

Moderate Inland flooding

Grand Forks County

73,042 people

Low Inland flooding

Ward County

69,879 people

Low Cold wave

Williams County

40,917 people

Low Cold wave

Stark County

33,613 people

Very Low Cold wave

Morton County

33,242 people

Low Inland flooding

Stutsman County

21,575 people

Low Cold wave

Richland County

16,521 people

Very Low Cold wave

McKenzie County

14,685 people

Very Low Cold wave

Rolette County

12,180 people

Low Cold wave

Ramsey County

11,577 people

Very Low Cold wave

Cities in North Dakota

All 7 cities ›
Fargo131,627Bismarck75,556Grand Forks59,042Minot47,791West Fargo40,094Williston28,056Dickinson25,357

All 53 counties

NamePeopleOverall riskTop hazardDeclarationsHomes insured
Adams County2,189Very LowCold wave130%
Barnes County10,821LowCold wave332.2%
Benson County5,945Very LowCold wave290.4%
Billings County945Very LowInland flooding100.2%
Bottineau County6,379Very LowCold wave260.2%
Bowman County2,993Very LowCold wave110.2%
Burke County2,201Very LowCold wave200.1%
Burleigh County98,437ModerateInland flooding201.7%
Cass County184,441ModerateInland flooding334.5%
Cavalier County3,703Very LowCold wave240%
Dickey County4,995Very LowCold wave300%
Divide County2,195Very LowCold wave150%
Dunn County4,088Very LowInland flooding160.6%
Eddy County2,347Very LowCold wave220.3%
Emmons County3,301LowCold wave240.5%
Foster County3,391Very LowCold wave210.1%
Golden Valley County1,732Very LowCold wave110%
Grand Forks County73,042LowInland flooding361.6%
Grant County2,299Very LowCold wave250.2%
Griggs County2,300Very LowCold wave210.1%
Hettinger County2,487Very LowInland flooding170.2%
Kidder County2,383Very LowCold wave240%
LaMoure County4,083Very LowCold wave310.7%
Logan County1,876Very LowCold wave240.1%
McHenry County5,344Very LowCold wave300.8%
McIntosh County2,530Very LowCold wave190.1%
McKenzie County14,685Very LowCold wave220.3%
McLean County9,755LowCold wave230%
Mercer County8,350Very LowInland flooding231.7%
Morton County33,242LowInland flooding251.3%
Mountrail County9,797Very LowCold wave250%
Nelson County3,007Very LowCold wave310%
Oliver County1,874Very LowInland flooding200.6%
Pembina County6,825Very LowInland flooding362.3%
Pierce County3,976Very LowCold wave210.1%
Ramsey County11,577Very LowCold wave270.5%
Ransom County5,692Very LowCold wave341.2%
Renville County2,282Very LowCold wave230.4%
Richland County16,521Very LowCold wave350.7%
Rolette County12,180LowCold wave230%
Sargent County3,851Very LowCold wave300.1%
Sheridan County1,265Very LowHail200%
Sioux County3,885LowCold wave200.3%
Slope County699Very LowCold wave80.2%
Stark County33,613Very LowCold wave140.7%
Steele County1,798Very LowStrong wind290.1%
Stutsman County21,575LowCold wave290.8%
Towner County2,161Very LowCold wave260%
Traill County7,997Very LowInland flooding340.8%
Walsh County10,553Very LowInland flooding391%
Ward County69,879LowCold wave264.5%
Wells County3,976Very LowCold wave270%
Williams County40,917LowCold wave180.2%

Linked names have a full page. Overall risk from the FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); declarations are federal disaster and emergency declarations for natural events since 1953 (OpenFEMA); homes insured is the share with NFIP flood policies.