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Griggs County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
41st of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$3Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Griggs County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 95% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, strong wind and hail. FEMA estimates about $3.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,354 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.

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

Top risks in Griggs County

$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 21 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Strong wind

Moderate
$624,260 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Hail

Low
$553,096 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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 waveLow51.9
$1M
Strong windModerate54.5
$624K
HailLow70.2
$553K
Inland floodingVery Low1.7
$319K
Ice stormModerate74.4
$279K
TornadoVery Low16.3
$166K
Winter weatherLow59.5
$88K
WildfireVery Low49.1
$45K
Heat waveVery Low6.2
$8K
DroughtVery Low22.3
$7K
LightningVery Low2.0
$7K
EarthquakeVery Low0.6
$724
LandslideVery Low26.8
$228

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm11
Flood9
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Oct 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2025Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2020FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
May 5, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
May 28, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, & Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Show all 21
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
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 1966FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 308 storm reports in Griggs County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $21.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on July 21, 1987.

37tornadoes
159hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
98damaging thunderstorm winds
12floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 21, 1987F3–0 / 0
Jul 16, 1957F3–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1986F2–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1986F2–0 / 0
Jun 21, 1971F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 9, 2006Thunderstorm WindCooperstown$9M
Aug 2, 1997HailCooperstown$7M
Jun 15, 1986Tornado–$3M
Jul 26, 2010Thunderstorm WindKarnak$1M
Jun 19, 1994TornadoBinford$500K
Jun 15, 1986Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 10, 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 Griggs County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (1 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$23,044paid on 5 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $17,657 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 Griggs County

$119,300median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1958median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
81%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.3%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; 1,360 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
Stutsman CountyLow29
Barnes CountyLow33
Foster CountyVery Low21
Nelson CountyVery Low31
Eddy CountyVery Low22
Steele CountyVery Low29

Common questions about Griggs County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Griggs County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Griggs County, about $1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $624,260.

How many federal disasters has Griggs County had?

Griggs County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in October 2025.

Is Griggs County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 41st 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 Griggs County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Griggs 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 Griggs County had?

NOAA records list 37 tornadoes in Griggs County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on July 21, 1987. The weather service has also logged 159 hail reports and 12 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.