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Eddy County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
48th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$3Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Eddy 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 48th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $2.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,104 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2025 (severe storm, tornadoes and straight-line winds). Only 4 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $206,000 on 23 claims here.

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

Top risks in Eddy County

$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 22 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$415,523 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Ice storm

Moderate
$277,925 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveLow42.9
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low1.4
$416K
Ice stormModerate68.0
$278K
HailLow41.2
$261K
TornadoVery Low14.2
$172K
Strong windVery Low13.3
$152K
WildfireVery Low63.0
$146K
Winter weatherLow56.4
$112K
DroughtVery Low22.6
$10K
LightningVery Low1.0
$6K
Heat waveVery Low4.3
$6K
EarthquakeVery Low1.2
$2K
LandslideVery Low17.3
$117

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 Eddy County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood13
Severe Storm8
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Sep 11, 2025Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2020FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 19, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 7, 2011FloodingEmergency
Apr 30, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 5, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Show all 22
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
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 1, 1994Severe Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 26, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1979Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
May 14, 1974Heavy Rains, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1966

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 275 storm reports in Eddy County since 1966 and about $1.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on July 4, 2018 near Hamar.

19tornadoes
156hail reports, largest 8 inches
77damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 4, 2018EF2Hamar0 / 0
Jul 11, 1974F2–0 / 0
Aug 3, 2016EF2Brantford0 / 0
Jul 17, 2011EF1New Rockford0 / 0
Jun 11, 1976F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 8, 2018Thunderstorm WindNew Rockford$500K
Jul 28, 1996HailNew Rockford$300K
Aug 2, 2008HailSheyenne$220K
Jul 17, 2011HailNew Rockford$200K
Jul 28, 1996HailNew Rockford$100K
Jun 12, 2000Flash FloodHamar$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 14, 2025. 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 Eddy County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
21.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$206,305paid on 23 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $66,879 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 Eddy County

$124,000median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.1%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; 1,358 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
Benson CountyVery Low29
Wells CountyVery Low27
Foster CountyVery Low21
Nelson CountyVery Low31
Griggs CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Eddy County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Eddy County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Eddy County, about $1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $415,523.

How many federal disasters has Eddy County had?

Eddy County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds in September 2025.

Is Eddy County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 48th 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 Eddy County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Eddy 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 Eddy County had?

NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Eddy County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on July 4, 2018 near Hamar. The weather service has also logged 156 hail reports and 21 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.