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Towner County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
47th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$3Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Towner 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 47th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $2.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,268 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (flooding). No homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $374,000 on 26 claims here.

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

Top risks in Towner County

$1.7 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.
$314,273 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Ice storm

Moderate
$290,714 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveLow57.3
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low1.1
$314K
Ice stormModerate69.5
$291K
HailVery Low19.8
$95K
WildfireVery Low56.8
$94K
Winter weatherLow46.3
$77K
Strong windVery Low7.4
$72K
TornadoVery Low7.8
$56K
DroughtVery Low27.1
$23K
LightningVery Low2.5
$12K
Heat waveVery Low3.7
$4K
EarthquakeVery Low0.4
$744
LandslideVery Low13.8
$72

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 low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood13
Severe Storm10
Tornado1
Coastal Storm1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Jul 5, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2017FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 7, 2011FloodingEmergency
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 5, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Nov 21, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record And/Or Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Show all 26
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
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
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
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster

North Dakota also had 25 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1964

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 277 storm reports in Towner County since 1964 and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on July 7, 2008 near Armourdale.

32tornadoes
157hail reports, largest 3 inches
68damaging thunderstorm winds
17floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 7, 2008EF3Armourdale0 / 0
Aug 3, 2016EF2Agate0 / 0
Jul 7, 2008EF1Crocus0 / 0
Aug 9, 2021EF1Newville0 / 0
May 19, 2004F1Bisbee0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 23, 2008HailHansboro$650K
Jun 28, 1996Thunderstorm WindRock Lake$500K
Apr 1, 2006FloodCountywide$294K
Jul 28, 2008HailBisbee Lyster Arpt$165K
Jul 7, 2008TornadoCrocus$155K
Aug 3, 2016Flash FloodBisbee Lyster Arpt$115K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 9, 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 Towner County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$374,072paid on 26 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $141,496 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 Towner County

$134,800median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.6%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; 1,255 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
Rolette CountyLow23
Ramsey CountyVery Low27
Benson CountyVery Low29
Pierce CountyVery Low21
Cavalier CountyVery Low24

Common questions about Towner County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Towner County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Towner County, about $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $314,273.

How many federal disasters has Towner County had?

Towner County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in July 2023.

Is Towner County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 47th 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 Towner County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Towner County had?

NOAA records list 32 tornadoes in Towner County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on July 7, 2008 near Armourdale. The weather service has also logged 157 hail reports and 17 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.