Benson County, North Dakota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Benson County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 18th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $5.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $848 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (26 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2020 (severe storms and flooding). Only 10 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $11 million on 420 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Benson County
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 82.1 | $3M | ||
| Inland flooding | 6.7 | $584K | ||
| Strong wind | 69.0 | $581K | ||
| Hail | 69.8 | $335K | ||
| Ice storm | 82.0 | $296K | ||
| Wildfire | 80.1 | $251K | ||
| Winter weather | 88.5 | $225K | ||
| Tornado | 20.9 | $157K | ||
| Drought | 33.6 | $22K | ||
| Lightning | 8.1 | $16K | ||
| Heat wave | 11.7 | $14K | ||
| Earthquake | 2.3 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 47.5 | $714 |
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 very high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Benson County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 29
North Dakota also had 25 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1958
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 557 storm reports in Benson County since 1958 and about $30 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 30, 1958.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 1958 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 8, 2001 | F2 | Maddock | 0 / 0 |
| May 20, 1974 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 9, 2017 | EF2 | Knox | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 4, 2018 | EF2 | Warwick | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2019 | Flash Flood | Maddock | $10M |
| Jun 19, 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Esmond | $6M |
| Jun 1, 2009 | Flood | Leeds | $2M |
| Jul 1, 2009 | Flood | Leeds | $2M |
| Jun 23, 2008 | Hail | Maddock | $1M |
| Jun 23, 2008 | Hail | Fillmore | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 16, 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 Benson County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Benson County
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; 2,536 housing units.
Compare in North Dakota
All 53 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Cass County | Inland flooding | |
| Burleigh County | Inland flooding | |
| Grand Forks County | Inland flooding | |
| Ward County | Cold wave | |
| Williams County | Cold wave | |
| Stark County | Cold wave | |
| Morton County | Inland flooding | |
| Stutsman County | Cold wave |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Ramsey County | 27 | |
| Pierce County | 21 | |
| Wells County | 27 | |
| Nelson County | 31 | |
| Eddy County | 22 | |
| Towner County | 26 |
Common questions about Benson County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Benson County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Benson County, about $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $584,190.
How many federal disasters has Benson County had?
Benson County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 26 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in October 2020.
Is Benson County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 18th 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 Benson County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Benson County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Benson County had?
NOAA records list 51 tornadoes in Benson County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 30, 1958. The weather service has also logged 301 hail reports and 46 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.