Grant County, North Dakota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 77.1 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 81.9 | $758K | ||
| Inland flooding | 6.7 | $729K | ||
| Strong wind | 24.2 | $173K | ||
| Tornado | 17.4 | $142K | ||
| Winter weather | 72.7 | $115K | ||
| Ice storm | 61.6 | $111K | ||
| Wildfire | 65.4 | $94K | ||
| Lightning | 20.1 | $52K | ||
| Heat wave | 10.3 | $15K | ||
| Drought | 21.8 | $5K | ||
| Earthquake | 3.8 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 14.2 | $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
Most recent
Show all 25
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 1978 | F4 | – | 35 / 5 |
| Jun 29, 1975 | F4 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 2011 | EF2 | New Leipzig | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 29, 1986 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 1966 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 2010 | Hail | Elgin | $3M |
| Jul 4, 1978 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| May 16, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Raleigh | $2M |
| Jul 13, 2010 | Hail | New Leipzig | $2M |
| Jul 5, 2014 | Hail | Elgin | $950K |
| Jun 29, 2019 | Hail | Elgin 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Cass County | Inland flooding | |
| Burleigh County | Inland flooding | |
| Grand Forks County | Inland flooding | |
| Ward County | Cold wave | |
| Williams County | Cold wave | |
| Stark County | Cold wave | |
| Morton County | Inland flooding | |
| Stutsman County | Cold wave |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Stark County | 14 | |
| Morton County | 25 | |
| Sioux County | 20 | |
| Hettinger County | 17 | |
| Adams County | 13 |
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.