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Kidder County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
45th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$3Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Kidder County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 97% of US counties. It ranks 45th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $3.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,432 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). 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 Kidder County

$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 18 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$682,944 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.

Hail

Low
$438,680 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 waveLow52.2
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low3.1
$683K
HailLow55.5
$439K
Strong windLow25.9
$333K
TornadoVery Low17.0
$246K
Winter weatherLow60.5
$124K
Ice stormLow48.1
$106K
WildfireVery Low45.8
$49K
DroughtVery Low25.4
$18K
Heat waveVery Low6.4
$11K
LightningVery Low1.6
$7K
EarthquakeVery Low0.8
$1K
LandslideVery Low5.6
$12

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm12
Flood9
Drought1
Coastal Storm1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Oct 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2025Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2023Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2021Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2020FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 24
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
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
Jul 21, 1976DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 261 storm reports in Kidder County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $12.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 17, 2001 near Lake Williams.

20tornadoes
135hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
96damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 17, 2001F2Lake Williams0 / 0
Jun 3, 1999F2Steele0 / 0
Jun 20, 2025EF1Tappen0 / 0
Aug 28, 2024EF1Steele0 / 0
Jun 12, 1988F1–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 25, 1999Thunderstorm WindTuttle$5M
Apr 1, 2009FloodTuttle$1M
Jul 17, 2001TornadoLake Williams$1M
Jun 20, 2025TornadoTappen$750K
Aug 28, 2024TornadoSteele$625K
Jun 25, 1999Thunderstorm WindPettibone$400K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 24, 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 Kidder 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 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest 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 Kidder County

$156,600median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
15.7%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; 1,660 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
Burleigh CountyModerate20
Stutsman CountyLow29
Wells CountyVery Low27
Emmons CountyLow24
Logan CountyVery Low24
Sheridan CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Kidder County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Kidder County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Kidder County, about $1.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $682,944.

How many federal disasters has Kidder County had?

Kidder County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in October 2025.

Is Kidder County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 45th 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 Kidder 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 Kidder County had?

NOAA records list 20 tornadoes in Kidder County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 17, 2001 near Lake Williams. The weather service has also logged 135 hail reports and 7 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.