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Adams County, North Dakota

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
43rd of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$2Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Adams County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 96% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, hail and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $2.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,000 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2022 (severe winter storm and flooding). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Adams County

$906,033 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 12 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Hail

Moderate
$633,651 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$321,202 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveLow56.2
$906K
HailModerate79.4
$634K
Inland floodingVery Low2.5
$321K
Winter weatherModerate62.6
$74K
Strong windVery Low12.5
$74K
TornadoVery Low12.3
$73K
Ice stormLow36.1
$33K
WildfireVery Low48.0
$32K
LightningVery Low7.6
$18K
DroughtVery Low25.8
$11K
Heat waveVery Low8.4
$10K
EarthquakeVery Low4.7
$4K
LandslideVery Low7.9
$13

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Adams County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Flood5
Snowstorm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 31, 2013Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 26, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 28, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, & Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Apr 7, 1997Severe Flooding,Severe Winter Storms, Snowmelt, Spring RainsMajor disaster
Jan 12, 1997Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard ConditionsMajor disaster
Show all 13
May 11, 1982FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 17, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 16, 1978Blizzard & SnowstormsEmergency

North Dakota also had 25 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1962

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 278 storm reports in Adams County since 1962, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $12.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on July 12, 1966.

14tornadoes
156hail reports, largest 3 inches
102damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 12, 1966F1–0 / 0
Jun 4, 1980F1–0 / 0
Jun 17, 2010EF1Hettinger0 / 0
Aug 11, 1999F1Reeder0 / 0
Jul 16, 1968F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 21, 2005HailHettinger$7M
Jul 8, 2009HailBucyrus$1M
Jun 15, 2025Thunderstorm WindHettinger$1M
Jun 26, 2018HailHettinger Arpt$750K
Aug 30, 2021HailHaynes$750K
Jun 25, 1999Thunderstorm WindHettinger$325K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 29, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Adams County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$12,872paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $12,872 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Adams County

$113,200median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1964median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.1%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 1,326 housing units.

Compare in North Dakota

All 53 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Cass CountyModerateInland flooding
Burleigh CountyModerateInland flooding
Grand Forks CountyLowInland flooding
Ward CountyLowCold wave
Williams CountyLowCold wave
Stark CountyVery LowCold wave
Morton CountyLowInland flooding
Stutsman CountyLowCold wave

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Corson County, SDVery Low14
Sioux CountyLow20
Bowman CountyVery Low11
Perkins County, SDVery Low19
Hettinger CountyVery Low17
Grant CountyVery Low25
Harding County, SDVery Low13
Slope CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Adams County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Adams County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Adams County, about $906,033 a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $633,651.

How many federal disasters has Adams County had?

Adams County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Flooding in July 2022.

Is Adams County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 43rd highest of 53 in North Dakota. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Adams County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Adams County had?

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Adams County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on July 12, 1966. The weather service has also logged 156 hail reports and 4 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.