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Golden Valley County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
27th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$5Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Golden Valley County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 87% of US counties. It ranks 27th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,753 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 July 2023 (flooding). 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 Golden Valley County

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.6 million 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.
$444,448 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
$227,344 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 waveModerate82.3
$4M
Inland floodingVery Low3.1
$444K
HailLow50.4
$227K
Strong windLow21.9
$172K
TornadoVery Low13.2
$95K
Winter weatherLow54.4
$64K
WildfireVery Low49.2
$39K
Ice stormLow34.7
$35K
LightningVery Low7.3
$20K
DroughtVery Low27.7
$16K
Heat waveVery Low9.8
$15K
EarthquakeVery Low4.2
$4K
LandslideVery Low11.4
$30

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm3
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 5, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 26, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Nov 21, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record And/Or Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 28, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, & Ground SaturationMajor disaster
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 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 226 storm reports in Golden Valley County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $4.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on July 19, 1952.

11tornadoes
119hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
86damaging thunderstorm winds
5floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 19, 1952F3–0 / 0
Jul 25, 2001F2Golva0 / 0
Jul 9, 1976F1–0 / 0
Jun 30, 2015EF1Trotters0 / 0
Jun 3, 2013EF0Golva0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 22, 1993HailBeach$1M
Aug 15, 1999HailBeach$1M
May 29, 2024HailBeach Muni Arpt$800K
Sep 5, 2015Thunderstorm WindGolva$700K
Aug 2, 1996HailBeach$262K
Jul 10, 2022Thunderstorm WindBeach Muni Arpt$250K

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 Golden Valley 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
$0paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
1979costliest 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 Golden Valley County

$123,900median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1957median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
76%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.8%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; 902 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
McKenzie CountyVery Low22
Fallon County, MTVery Low6
Billings CountyVery Low10
Wibaux County, MTVery Low3
Slope CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Golden Valley County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Golden Valley County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Golden Valley County, about $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $444,448.

How many federal disasters has Golden Valley County had?

Golden Valley County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in July 2023.

Is Golden Valley County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 27th 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 Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Golden Valley County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on July 19, 1952. The weather service has also logged 119 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.