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Morton County, North Dakota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
8th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$26Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Morton County, North Dakota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 50% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $26 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $769 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (23 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2025 (severe storm, tornadoes and straight-line winds). About 1 in 77 homes here carry federal flood insurance (144 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.8 million on 216 claims here, including $2.4 million for floods in 2011.

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

Top risks in Morton County

$7.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 14 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Hail

High
$5.4 million 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
Inland floodingLow40.4
$8M
Cold waveModerate80.5
$6M
HailHigh95.8
$5M
TornadoLow57.3
$3M
Winter weatherHigh95.5
$1M
Ice stormHigh85.0
$967K
Strong windLow51.3
$915K
WildfireLow73.9
$375K
Heat waveVery Low28.0
$192K
LightningVery Low23.7
$131K
DroughtVery Low23.4
$14K
EarthquakeVery Low6.9
$11K
LandslideVery Low38.4
$933

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood16
Severe Storm8
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Sep 11, 2025Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 5, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 31, 2013Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 7, 2011FloodingEmergency
Apr 30, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 26, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 25
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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
Jul 26, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1979Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 17, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
May 24, 1975Flooding From Rains & SnowmeltMajor disaster
Jun 10, 1972Severe Storms & 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 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 805 storm reports in Morton County since 1953, with 3 deaths and 25 injuries and about $146 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on May 29, 1953.

54tornadoes
424hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
303damaging thunderstorm winds
20floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 29, 1953F5–20 / 2
May 25, 1978F3–0 / 0
Jul 30, 1981F3–0 / 0
Jun 20, 2025EF2New Salem0 / 0
Jun 4, 1971F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 9, 2001HailMandan$113M
Jun 2, 2011FloodNew Salem$10M
Jun 25, 1999Thunderstorm WindMandan$2M
Jun 15, 2009Flash FloodMandan$2M
Jun 20, 2025TornadoNew Salem$2M
May 16, 1996Thunderstorm WindMandan$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 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 Morton County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (144 policies)
8.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.8 millionpaid on 216 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $2.4 million 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 Morton County

$263,900median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
51%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.8%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; 15,465 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
Stark CountyVery Low14
Mercer CountyVery Low23
Sioux CountyLow20
Emmons CountyLow24
Grant CountyVery Low25
Oliver CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Morton County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Morton County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Morton County, about $7.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $6 million.

How many federal disasters has Morton County had?

Morton County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 23 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds in September 2025.

Is Morton County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 8th 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 Morton County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Morton 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 Morton County had?

NOAA records list 54 tornadoes in Morton County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on May 29, 1953. The weather service has also logged 424 hail reports and 20 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.