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McIntosh County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
15th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$8Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

McIntosh County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 65% of US counties. It ranks 15th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $7.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $3,067 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2024 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Only 2 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 McIntosh County

$5.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 16 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$970,906 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 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
$423,882 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh91.0
$5M
Inland floodingVery Low10.8
$971K
HailLow72.0
$424K
Strong windLow37.9
$267K
TornadoVery Low25.6
$263K
Winter weatherModerate82.7
$164K
WildfireLow70.8
$126K
Ice stormLow58.1
$85K
DroughtLow31.8
$21K
Heat waveVery Low10.4
$13K
LightningVery Low5.0
$11K
EarthquakeVery Low6.2
$4K
LandslideVery Low3.4
$3

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 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 McIntosh County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood8
Severe Storm8
Drought1
Coastal Storm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Feb 15, 2024Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 26, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 27, 2000Severe Storms, Flooding and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Jun 8, 1999Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow, Ice, Ground Saturation, Lanslides, Mudslides, and TorMajor disaster
Show all 19
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 17, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 267 storm reports in McIntosh County since 1958 and about $5.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on July 31, 1966.

21tornadoes
146hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
96damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 31, 1966F3–0 / 0
Jul 6, 1962F2–0 / 0
Jul 6, 1962F2–0 / 0
Jun 20, 1991F1–0 / 0
May 27, 1980F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 28, 1993HailWishek$1M
Aug 28, 1993HailAshley$1M
Sep 23, 2007Thunderstorm WindZeeland$700K
Jun 21, 2015Thunderstorm WindZeeland$600K
Jun 18, 2014Thunderstorm WindAshley$350K
Jun 20, 1991Tornado–$250K

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 McIntosh County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7,285paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $7,285 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 McIntosh County

$84,200median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1955median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
83%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.6%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; 1,677 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
Dickey CountyVery Low30
LaMoure CountyVery Low31
Emmons CountyLow24
McPherson County, SDVery Low15
Logan CountyVery Low24
Campbell County, SDVery Low13

Common questions about McIntosh County

What is the biggest natural hazard in McIntosh County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in McIntosh County, about $5.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $970,906.

How many federal disasters has McIntosh County had?

McIntosh County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in February 2024.

Is McIntosh County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 15th 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 McIntosh County?

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

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in McIntosh County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on July 31, 1966. The weather service has also logged 146 hail reports and 4 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.