Steele County, North Dakota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Steele County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 39th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are strong wind, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $4.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,412 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (28 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Steele County
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong wind | 78.1 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 45.7 | $969K | ||
| Hail | 73.7 | $796K | ||
| Inland flooding | 2.3 | $505K | ||
| Ice storm | 70.4 | $274K | ||
| Tornado | 16.8 | $216K | ||
| Winter weather | 53.3 | $87K | ||
| Wildfire | 17.0 | $7K | ||
| Heat wave | 5.0 | $7K | ||
| Drought | 21.1 | $6K | ||
| Lightning | 1.2 | $6K | ||
| Earthquake | 0.8 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 22.5 | $180 |
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 moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Steele County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 29
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 351 storm reports in Steele County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $77 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 21, 1971.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 1971 | F3 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jul 18, 2004 | F2 | Finley | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 2021 | EF2 | Sharon | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 12, 1976 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 17, 2010 | EF2 | Hope | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Finley | $22M |
| Jul 15, 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Colgate | $13M |
| Sep 20, 2019 | Flash Flood | Luverne | $10M |
| Jul 15, 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hope | $9M |
| Jul 15, 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Finley | $6M |
| Jul 15, 2007 | Hail | Hope | $6M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 8, 2025. 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 Steele County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Steele County
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; 1,119 housing units.
Compare in North Dakota
All 53 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Cass County | Inland flooding | |
| Burleigh County | Inland flooding | |
| Grand Forks County | Inland flooding | |
| Ward County | Cold wave | |
| Williams County | Cold wave | |
| Stark County | Cold wave | |
| Morton County | Inland flooding | |
| Stutsman County | Cold wave |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Cass County | 33 | |
| Grand Forks County | 36 | |
| Barnes County | 33 | |
| Traill County | 34 | |
| Nelson County | 31 | |
| Griggs County | 21 |
Common questions about Steele County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Steele County?
Strong wind has the highest expected yearly losses in Steele County, about $1.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $968,657.
How many federal disasters has Steele County had?
Steele County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 28 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes in October 2025.
Is Steele County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 39th 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 Steele County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Steele 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 Steele County had?
NOAA records list 44 tornadoes in Steele County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 21, 1971. The weather service has also logged 175 hail reports and 22 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.