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Bowman County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
46th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$3Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Bowman County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 46th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $2.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $917 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2013 (severe winter storm). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $12,000 on 10 claims here.

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

Top risks in Bowman County

$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 11 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$550,589 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.

Hail

Low
$233,242 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveLow52.6
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low2.4
$551K
HailLow40.1
$233K
Strong windVery Low13.7
$145K
Winter weatherLow58.8
$113K
TornadoVery Low11.5
$111K
WildfireVery Low56.7
$90K
Ice stormLow40.0
$69K
LightningVery Low6.5
$27K
DroughtVery Low25.5
$18K
Heat waveVery Low6.8
$13K
EarthquakeVery Low7.7
$10K
LandslideVery Low7.4
$20

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm5
Snowstorm2
Flood2
Tornado1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Oct 31, 2013Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 26, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 17, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 21, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record And/Or Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
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
Show all 11
Feb 16, 1978Blizzard & SnowstormsEmergency

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 299 storm reports in Bowman County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $4.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 14, 1977.

14tornadoes
165hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
111damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 14, 1977F2–1 / 0
Jun 30, 2015EF1Bowman Arpt0 / 0
Jun 20, 1984F1–0 / 0
Jun 18, 1971F1–0 / 0
Jun 18, 1971F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 7, 2009HailRhame$750K
Jun 6, 2007FloodBowman$550K
Jun 6, 2020Thunderstorm WindBowman$400K
Aug 7, 2007Thunderstorm WindBowman$350K
Jun 14, 1977Tornado–$250K
Jul 23, 2010Thunderstorm WindScranton$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 7, 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 Bowman County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
33.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$11,760paid on 10 flood claims since 1978
1978costliest year, with $8,258 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 Bowman County

$164,900median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.7%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; 1,635 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
Fallon County, MTVery Low6
Adams CountyVery Low13
Harding County, SDVery Low13
Slope CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Bowman County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bowman County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Bowman County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $550,589.

How many federal disasters has Bowman County had?

Bowman County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in October 2013.

Is Bowman County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 46th 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 Bowman County?

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

NOAA records list 14 tornadoes in Bowman County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 14, 1977. The weather service has also logged 165 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.