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Stark County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
13th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$14Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Stark County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 63% of US counties. It ranks 13th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $430 per resident. Since 1966 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2013 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (83 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $92,000 on 30 claims here.

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

Top risks in Stark County

Cold wave

Moderate
$5.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 13 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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

Moderate
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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 waveModerate82.1
$5M
Inland floodingVery Low22.3
$3M
HailModerate85.7
$2M
TornadoLow47.9
$1M
Winter weatherVery High96.6
$1M
Strong windModerate53.8
$758K
LightningModerate65.6
$517K
Ice stormModerate76.8
$397K
Heat waveVery Low23.3
$103K
WildfireVery Low54.8
$76K
EarthquakeVery Low16.8
$26K
DroughtVery Low28.1
$23K
LandslideVery Low17.3
$103

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 Stark County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm5
Coastal Storm1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Jul 12, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 26, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 24, 2009Severe 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
Apr 7, 1997Severe Flooding,Severe Winter Storms, Snowmelt, Spring RainsMajor disaster
Jan 12, 1997Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard ConditionsMajor disaster
Jul 26, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 17, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
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 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 494 storm reports in Stark County since 1952, with 1 death and 2 injuries and about $32.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on July 8, 2009 near Dickinson.

26tornadoes
224hail reports, largest 3 inches
227damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 8, 2009EF3Dickinson2 / 0
Jun 10, 1952F2–0 / 0
Jun 4, 1976F2–0 / 0
Apr 22, 1957F2–0 / 0
Jun 24, 2009EF1Belfield0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 8, 2009TornadoDickinson$20M
Jun 19, 2005Thunderstorm WindDickinson$3M
Aug 15, 1999HailDickinson$2M
Aug 6, 2013Thunderstorm WindDickinson$850K
Jun 24, 2009TornadoBelfield$740K
Aug 15, 2014FloodSouth Heart$725K

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 Stark County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (83 policies)
12.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$91,846paid on 30 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $45,629 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 Stark County

$271,700median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1986median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
41%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.6%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; 15,514 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
Morton CountyLow25
Mercer CountyVery Low23
Dunn CountyVery Low16
Hettinger CountyVery Low17
Grant CountyVery Low25
Billings CountyVery Low10
Slope CountyVery Low8

Cities in Stark County

Common questions about Stark County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Stark County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Stark County, about $5.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $3.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Stark County had?

Stark County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1966, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2013.

Is Stark County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 13th 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 Stark County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Stark 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 Stark County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Stark County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on July 8, 2009 near Dickinson. The weather service has also logged 224 hail reports and 6 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.