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Billings County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
52nd of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$2Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Billings County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 99% of US counties. It ranks 52nd of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $1.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,840 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2022 (severe winter storm and flooding). Only 2 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $100,000 on 13 claims here.

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

Top risks in Billings County

$723,361 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 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.

Hail

Low
$309,080 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.

Cold wave

Very Low
$232,839 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low3.0
$723K
HailLow44.5
$309K
Cold waveVery Low15.7
$233K
WildfireLow65.3
$179K
Strong windVery Low11.2
$122K
TornadoVery Low8.5
$73K
Winter weatherLow33.0
$50K
Ice stormVery Low23.0
$30K
LightningVery Low2.1
$10K
DroughtVery Low18.4
$4K
Heat waveVery Low3.2
$3K
EarthquakeVery Low1.8
$3K
LandslideVery Low22.4
$217

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 low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm4
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 26, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 21, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record And/Or Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 7, 1997Severe Flooding,Severe Winter Storms, Snowmelt, Spring RainsMajor disaster
Jan 12, 1997Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard ConditionsMajor 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 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 178 storm reports in Billings County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $2.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on August 24, 1983.

8tornadoes
121hail reports, largest 3 inches
39damaging thunderstorm winds
5floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 24, 1983F1–0 / 0
Jun 27, 2026EF1Fryburg0 / 0
Jun 11, 1984F1–0 / 0
Jun 14, 1970F0–0 / 0
Jun 28, 1989F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 10, 2022Thunderstorm WindFairfield$1M
Jun 28, 1996HailMedora$525K
Jul 10, 2016HailFairfield$350K
Sep 5, 2015Thunderstorm WindFryburg$275K
Jul 26, 2010Thunderstorm WindFryburg$95K
Jun 30, 2006HailFryburg$75K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 2, 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 Billings County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$99,601paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $80,602 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 Billings County

$331,000median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.3%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; 546 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
Stark CountyVery Low14
McKenzie CountyVery Low22
Dunn CountyVery Low16
Golden Valley CountyVery Low11
Slope CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Billings County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Billings County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Billings County, about $723,361 a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $309,080.

How many federal disasters has Billings County had?

Billings County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Flooding in July 2022.

Is Billings County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 52nd 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 Billings County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Billings 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 Billings County had?

NOAA records list 8 tornadoes in Billings County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on August 24, 1983. The weather service has also logged 121 hail reports and 5 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.