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Dunn County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
32nd of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$5Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Dunn County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,184 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (flooding). Only 18 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 Dunn County

$1.3 million 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
$1.1 million 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.
$990,954 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 14 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 Low10.1
$1M
HailModerate84.0
$1M
Cold waveLow52.1
$991K
WildfireLow83.9
$608K
TornadoVery Low24.0
$326K
Winter weatherModerate80.9
$214K
Strong windLow18.1
$152K
Ice stormModerate60.1
$131K
LightningVery Low11.9
$39K
DroughtVery Low27.9
$18K
Heat waveVery Low8.7
$13K
EarthquakeVery Low3.4
$3K
LandslideVery Low47.3
$1K

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 very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm6
Snowstorm2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 5, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 2011Severe Winter StormMajor 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 2, 2004SnowEmergency
Apr 7, 1997Severe Flooding,Severe Winter Storms, Snowmelt, Spring RainsMajor disaster
Show all 16
Jan 12, 1997Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard ConditionsMajor disaster
Apr 17, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 1976DroughtEmergency
May 24, 1975Flooding From Rains & SnowmeltMajor disaster
Jun 5, 1970Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 312 storm reports in Dunn County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $28.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 1, 2018 near Killdeer.

24tornadoes
168hail reports, largest 3.25 inches
107damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 1, 2018EF2Killdeer0 / 0
May 26, 1978F2–0 / 0
Jul 14, 2018EF1Dodge0 / 0
Jun 4, 1980F1–0 / 0
Jun 4, 1980F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 10, 2016HailKilldeer$21M
Sep 3, 2014HailManning$2M
Aug 15, 2014FloodKilldeer$2M
Apr 16, 2023FloodKilldeer$540K
Sep 3, 2014Thunderstorm WindDunn Center$300K
Jul 20, 2017Thunderstorm WindHalliday$275K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 Dunn County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (18 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

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 Dunn County

$275,000median 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
23.2%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; 2,088 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
Mountrail CountyVery Low25
McLean CountyLow23
Mercer CountyVery Low23
Billings CountyVery Low10

Common questions about Dunn County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Dunn County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Dunn County, about $1.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Dunn County had?

Dunn County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in July 2023.

Is Dunn County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 32nd 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 Dunn County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Dunn 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 Dunn County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Dunn County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 1, 2018 near Killdeer. The weather service has also logged 168 hail reports and 11 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.