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Renville County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
50th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$2Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Renville County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 98% of US counties. It ranks 50th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and winter weather. FEMA estimates about $2.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,038 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2022 (severe winter storm and flooding). Only 5 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $124,000 on 33 claims here.

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

Top risks in Renville County

$1.3 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.
$487,669 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 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.
$120,660 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 19 times a year.
  • Keep a winter kit in the car.
  • Have food, water and medicine for several days at home.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveLow49.6
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low1.7
$488K
Winter weatherLow57.4
$121K
TornadoVery Low10.5
$104K
HailVery Low19.1
$98K
Ice stormLow36.7
$66K
Strong windVery Low6.7
$65K
DroughtVery Low29.5
$34K
WildfireVery Low37.3
$31K
LightningVery Low2.3
$10K
Heat waveVery Low3.6
$4K
EarthquakeVery Low1.4
$2K
LandslideVery Low13.6
$73

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 high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood13
Severe Storm8
Coastal Storm1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2017FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 19, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
May 20, 2011Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 30, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 26, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Nov 21, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record And/Or Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 23
Jul 22, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
May 5, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and 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
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

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 170 storm reports in Renville County since 1953, with 1 death and 4 injuries and about $12.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 23, 1997 near Greene.

25tornadoes
92hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
42damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 23, 1997F2Greene2 / 1
Jul 8, 2009EF1Sherwood0 / 0
Aug 16, 1988F0–0 / 0
Jul 8, 1989F0–0 / 0
Jul 8, 1989F0–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2011FloodTolley$5M
Jul 31, 2007HailNorma$2M
Jun 22, 2011Flash FloodSherwood$1M
Jul 10, 1997Thunderstorm WindTolley$700K
Jul 3, 1994Hail–$550K
Jul 11, 2004Thunderstorm WindMohall$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 5, 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 Renville County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (5 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$123,517paid on 33 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $91,073 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 Renville County

$166,000median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
62%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.9%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; 1,339 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
Bottineau CountyVery Low26
McHenry CountyVery Low30
Burke CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Renville County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Renville County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Renville County, about $1.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $487,669.

How many federal disasters has Renville County had?

Renville County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Flooding in July 2022.

Is Renville County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 50th 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 Renville County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Renville 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 Renville County had?

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Renville County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 23, 1997 near Greene. The weather service has also logged 92 hail reports and 11 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.