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McHenry County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
29th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$7Mexpected losses a year
30federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

McHenry County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 88% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $7.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,373 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (28 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (flooding). Only 30 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $647,000 on 61 claims here.

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

Top risks in McHenry County

$2.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 22 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$1.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 845 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveLow63.2
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low8.1
$2M
WildfireLow87.4
$1M
TornadoLow27.6
$606K
Winter weatherHigh89.4
$547K
Ice stormModerate76.4
$442K
HailLow46.6
$322K
Strong windLow17.9
$217K
LightningVery Low6.8
$31K
DroughtVery Low25.0
$17K
EarthquakeVery Low11.0
$16K
Heat waveVery Low7.2
$15K
LandslideVery Low47.0
$2K

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 moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood16
Severe Storm11
Snowstorm2
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 5, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2017FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 19, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 30
Jul 17, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 21, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record And/Or Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
May 5, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2004SnowEmergency
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
Apr 26, 1979Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1976FloodingMajor disaster
May 24, 1975Flooding From Rains & SnowmeltMajor disaster
May 14, 1974Heavy Rains, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 5, 1970Severe 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 1965

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 357 storm reports in McHenry County since 1965 and about $10.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 6, 1982.

42tornadoes
203hail reports, largest 4 inches
91damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 6, 1982F2–0 / 0
Jul 18, 1994F1Velva0 / 0
Jun 22, 2007EF1Upham0 / 0
May 15, 1977F1–0 / 0
Aug 3, 1979F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2011FloodDeering$5M
Jul 7, 2020Thunderstorm WindAnamoose$850K
Jul 18, 1994TornadoVelva$550K
Jul 17, 2011HailVelva$400K
Jul 14, 2024HailNorfolk$400K
Jun 16, 2025Thunderstorm WindVoltaire$350K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 McHenry County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (30 policies)
7.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$647,366paid on 61 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $554,258 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 McHenry County

$151,000median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
72%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.8%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; 2,833 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
Ward CountyLow26
McLean CountyLow23
Bottineau CountyVery Low26
Pierce CountyVery Low21
Renville CountyVery Low23
Sheridan CountyVery Low20

Common questions about McHenry County

What is the biggest natural hazard in McHenry County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in McHenry County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has McHenry County had?

McHenry County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 28 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in July 2023.

Is McHenry County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 29th 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 McHenry County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in McHenry 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 McHenry County had?

NOAA records list 42 tornadoes in McHenry County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 6, 1982. The weather service has also logged 203 hail reports and 16 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.