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Dickey County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
23rd of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$6Mexpected losses a year
30federal declarations
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Dickey County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 84% of US counties. It ranks 23rd of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,226 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (27 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2024 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). 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 Dickey County

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 17 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$918,335 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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

Moderate
$717,454 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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 waveModerate78.0
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low6.5
$918K
HailModerate76.3
$717K
Strong windLow47.5
$501K
TornadoVery Low24.8
$356K
Winter weatherModerate83.5
$244K
Ice stormLow55.5
$107K
WildfireVery Low56.0
$66K
Heat waveVery Low14.1
$31K
DroughtVery Low26.2
$15K
EarthquakeVery Low7.3
$7K
LightningVery Low1.7
$6K
LandslideVery Low18.7
$101

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 moderate 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 Dickey County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood17
Severe Storm9
Drought1
Coastal Storm1
Snowstorm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Feb 15, 2024Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 5, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2023Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2020FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2010FloodingEmergency
Show all 30
Feb 26, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 17, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
May 28, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, & Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Jun 27, 2000Severe Storms, Flooding and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Jun 8, 1999Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow, Ice, Ground Saturation, Lanslides, Mudslides, and TorMajor disaster
Jun 15, 1998Flooding, Ground Saturation,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Apr 7, 1997Severe Flooding,Severe Winter Storms, Snowmelt, Spring RainsMajor disaster
Jan 12, 1997Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard ConditionsMajor disaster
Jun 5, 1996Severe Storms,Flooding, & Ice JamsMajor disaster
May 16, 1995Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Jul 26, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1979Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 17, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jul 11, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 1966FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 289 storm reports in Dickey County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $12.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 27, 1999 near Ellendale.

35tornadoes
141hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
96damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 27, 1999F2Ellendale0 / 0
Jun 20, 1957F2–0 / 0
Jul 31, 1966F2–0 / 0
Aug 2, 1960F2–0 / 0
Jul 10, 2011EF1Merricourt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 10, 2011Thunderstorm WindMerricourt$2M
Jun 26, 1998HailOakes$2M
Aug 7, 1993HailForbes$1M
Jun 14, 2022Thunderstorm WindEllendale$1M
Jul 27, 1999TornadoEllendale$800K
Jun 7, 2005Flash FloodMerricourt$750K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 24, 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 Dickey 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
$20,331paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $20,331 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 Dickey County

$162,400median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1964median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.9%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; 2,394 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
Brown County, SDLow17
Ransom CountyVery Low34
LaMoure CountyVery Low31
Sargent CountyVery Low30
McIntosh CountyVery Low19
McPherson County, SDVery Low15

Common questions about Dickey County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dickey County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Dickey County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $918,335.

How many federal disasters has Dickey County had?

Dickey County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 27 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in February 2024.

Is Dickey County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 23rd 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 Dickey 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 Dickey County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Dickey County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 27, 1999 near Ellendale. The weather service has also logged 141 hail reports and 12 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.