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Traill County, North Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
30th of 53highest risk in North Dakota
$8Mexpected losses a year
34federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Traill County, North Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 30th of 53 counties in North Dakota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $8.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,020 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (30 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2025 (severe storm, tornadoes and straight-line winds). Only 26 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.5 million on 128 claims here, including $596,000 for floods in 2009.

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

Top risks in Traill County

$2.5 million 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.

Hail

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 21 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low12.7
$3M
HailModerate84.4
$2M
Cold waveLow50.8
$2M
TornadoLow30.0
$829K
Strong windLow33.5
$534K
Ice stormModerate75.2
$472K
Winter weatherModerate75.1
$268K
Heat waveVery Low10.4
$31K
LightningVery Low4.8
$25K
WildfireVery Low23.3
$16K
DroughtVery Low21.9
$10K
EarthquakeVery Low3.9
$6K
LandslideVery Low21.4
$215

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 Traill County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood21
Severe Storm11
Coastal Storm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Sep 11, 2025Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Feb 15, 2024Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 13, 2022Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2020FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2020FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019FloodingMajor disaster
May 29, 2013FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 2013FloodingEmergency
May 10, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 7, 2011FloodingEmergency
Show all 34
Apr 30, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2010FloodingEmergency
Mar 24, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 5, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
May 5, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 28, 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, & 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
Jun 5, 1996Severe Storms,Flooding, & Ice JamsMajor disaster
May 16, 1995Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground SaturationMajor disaster
Jul 26, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 8, 1989FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1979Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 17, 1978Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 5, 1970Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 1966FloodingMajor disaster
May 10, 1965FloodingMajor 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 391 storm reports in Traill County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $48.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on June 17, 2010 near Portland Jct.

34tornadoes
150hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
178damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 17, 2010EF4Portland Jct1 / 0
Jun 16, 1973F3–0 / 0
Aug 27, 2016EF3Taft0 / 0
Jul 11, 2017EF2Hatton Arpt0 / 0
Jul 11, 2017EF2Hillsboro Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 20, 2001HailCummings$30M
Sep 21, 2019Flash FloodHillsboro$10M
Jul 15, 2007HailHillsboro$2M
Jul 11, 2017TornadoHatton Arpt$1M
Aug 8, 2001Thunderstorm WindHillsboro$1M
Jun 14, 2008Thunderstorm WindMayville Arpt$700K

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 Traill County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (26 policies)
21.4%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.5 millionpaid on 128 flood claims since 1978
2009costliest year, with $595,548 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 Traill County

$200,700median home value (North Dakota $249,900, US $332,700)
1964median year homes were built (North Dakota 1982, US 1980)
73%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.8%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; 3,664 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
Cass CountyModerate33
Grand Forks CountyLow36
Polk County, MNLow29
Norman County, MNVery Low30
Steele CountyVery Low29

Common questions about Traill County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Traill County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Traill County, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $1.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Traill County had?

Traill County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 30 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds in September 2025.

Is Traill County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 30th 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 Traill County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Traill 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 Traill County had?

NOAA records list 34 tornadoes in Traill County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on June 17, 2010 near Portland Jct. The weather service has also logged 150 hail reports and 24 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.