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Ramsey County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
22nd of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$9Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Ramsey County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $8.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $745 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2022 (severe winter storm and flooding). Only 25 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $37 million on 1,103 claims here.

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

Top risks in Ramsey County

Cold wave

Moderate
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 24 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$970,304 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveModerate74.1
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low10.0
$2M
Strong windModerate62.1
$970K
HailLow68.3
$651K
TornadoLow27.2
$529K
WildfireLow79.9
$514K
Winter weatherHigh89.9
$509K
Ice stormModerate78.9
$469K
LightningVery Low10.9
$46K
Heat waveVery Low11.1
$27K
DroughtVery Low27.7
$23K
EarthquakeVery Low5.9
$7K
LandslideVery Low30.9
$420

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 Ramsey County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood15
Severe Storm10
Tornado1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 7, 2011FloodingEmergency
Apr 30, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2010FloodingEmergency
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Show all 27
May 5, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
May 28, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, & Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 27, 2000Severe Storms, Flooding and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Jun 8, 1999Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow, Ice, Ground Saturation, Lanslides, Mudslides, and TorMajor disaster
Jun 15, 1998Flooding, Ground Saturation,Severe StormsMajor 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
May 14, 1974Heavy Rains, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 5, 1970Severe Storms & 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 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 493 storm reports in Ramsey County since 1960, with 0 deaths and 17 injuries and about $34.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on August 5, 1966.

50tornadoes
221hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
179damaging thunderstorm winds
42floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 5, 1966F2–1 / 0
Jun 21, 1971F2–0 / 0
Jun 12, 1976F2–0 / 0
Aug 5, 1966F1–0 / 0
Jul 6, 1971F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 20, 2019Flash FloodChurchs Ferry$10M
Aug 11, 2000Thunderstorm WindDevils Lake$10M
Aug 11, 2000Thunderstorm WindDevils Lake$7M
Jun 1, 2009FloodSt Joe$2M
Jul 1, 2009FloodSt Joe$2M
Aug 1, 2011FloodSt Joe$300K

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

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (25 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$37.5 millionpaid on 1,103 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $9.2 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 Ramsey County

$199,300median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1976median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.8%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; 5,872 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
Walsh CountyVery Low39
Benson CountyVery Low29
Cavalier CountyVery Low24
Nelson CountyVery Low31
Towner CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Ramsey County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Ramsey County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Ramsey County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Ramsey County had?

Ramsey County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Flooding in July 2022.

Is Ramsey County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 22nd 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 Ramsey County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Ramsey 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 Ramsey County had?

NOAA records list 50 tornadoes in Ramsey County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on August 5, 1966. The weather service has also logged 221 hail reports and 42 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.