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Grant County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
24th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$5Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Grant County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 85% of US counties. It ranks 24th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, hail and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $4.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,974 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2025 (severe storm, tornadoes and straight-line winds). Only 3 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $51,000 on 13 claims here.

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

Top risks in Grant County

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 13 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Hail

Moderate
$758,375 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$728,876 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveModerate77.1
$2M
HailModerate81.9
$758K
Inland floodingVery Low6.7
$729K
Strong windLow24.2
$173K
TornadoVery Low17.4
$142K
Winter weatherModerate72.7
$115K
Ice stormModerate61.6
$111K
WildfireLow65.4
$94K
LightningVery Low20.1
$52K
Heat waveVery Low10.3
$15K
DroughtVery Low21.8
$5K
EarthquakeVery Low3.8
$3K
LandslideVery Low14.2
$43

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 high 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 Grant County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood10
Severe Storm10
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Tornado1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Sep 11, 2025Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 15, 2024Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2021Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 31, 2013Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 26, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 25
Jul 17, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 28, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, & Ground SaturationMajor 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
Jul 26, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1982FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1978Severe Storms & TornadoesEmergency
Apr 17, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 16, 1978Blizzard & SnowstormsEmergency
Jul 21, 1976DroughtEmergency
Jun 10, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1966Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 322 storm reports in Grant County since 1954, with 5 deaths and 40 injuries and about $15.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on July 4, 1978.

27tornadoes
189hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
91damaging thunderstorm winds
9floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 4, 1978F4–35 / 5
Jun 29, 1975F4–0 / 0
Jun 12, 2011EF2New Leipzig0 / 0
Jun 29, 1986F1–0 / 0
Jun 24, 1966F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 13, 2010HailElgin$3M
Jul 4, 1978Tornado–$3M
May 16, 1996Thunderstorm WindRaleigh$2M
Jul 13, 2010HailNew Leipzig$2M
Jul 5, 2014HailElgin$950K
Jun 29, 2019HailElgin Muni Arpt$900K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 19, 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 Grant County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (3 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$50,957paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $28,972 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 Grant County

$93,200median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1962median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
77%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.6%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
Stark CountyVery Low14
Morton CountyLow25
Sioux CountyLow20
Hettinger CountyVery Low17
Adams CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Grant County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Grant County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Grant County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $758,375.

How many federal disasters has Grant County had?

Grant County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds in September 2025.

Is Grant County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 24th 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 Grant County?

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

NOAA records list 27 tornadoes in Grant County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on July 4, 1978. The weather service has also logged 189 hail reports and 9 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.