North Dakota natural disaster risk
North Dakota ranks #3 of 51 from the lowest population-weighted county-score mean in our state comparison. Its highest hazard-score means are winter weather, hail, ice storm.
RelocateMath computes these state means by weighting FEMA county scores by population. A mean of county percentiles is not a national state percentile or an official FEMA state rating.
The vertical line marks county-score scale midpoint (50).
Find your county's risk in North Dakota
All 53 county rows with a FEMA score are available below, initially ordered by population.
| County | Population | Risk score | FEMA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | 193,400 | 82.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Burleigh County | 100,600 | 85.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Grand Forks County | 72,923 | 57.7 | Relatively Low |
| Ward County | 68,973 | 64.8 | Relatively Low |
| Williams County | 39,555 | 53.7 | Relatively Low |
| Morton County | 33,777 | 49.6 | Relatively Low |
| Stark County | 33,302 | 37.3 | Very Low |
| Stutsman County | 21,549 | 46.4 | Relatively Low |
| Richland County | 16,584 | 35.3 | Very Low |
| McKenzie County | 14,321 | 25.0 | Very Low |
| Rolette County | 11,924 | 52.9 | Relatively Low |
| Ramsey County | 11,556 | 18.3 | Very Low |
| Barnes County | 10,773 | 45.9 | Relatively Low |
| Walsh County | 10,396 | 29.0 | Very Low |
| McLean County | 9,823 | 43.1 | Relatively Low |
| Mountrail County | 9,507 | 21.4 | Very Low |
| Mercer County | 8,337 | 13.9 | Very Low |
| Traill County | 7,970 | 11.0 | Very Low |
| Pembina County | 6,727 | 20.9 | Very Low |
| Bottineau County | 6,378 | 18.7 | Very Low |
| Benson County | 5,808 | 24.3 | Very Low |
| Ransom County | 5,643 | 13.2 | Very Low |
| McHenry County | 5,207 | 11.7 | Very Low |
| Dickey County | 4,935 | 15.8 | Very Low |
| LaMoure County | 4,118 | 10.9 | Very Low |
| Dunn County | 4,040 | 10.8 | Very Low |
| Pierce County | 3,928 | 3.2 | Very Low |
| Wells County | 3,890 | 8.6 | Very Low |
| Sargent County | 3,804 | 7.4 | Very Low |
| Sioux County | 3,740 | 62.1 | Relatively Low |
| Cavalier County | 3,633 | 11.8 | Very Low |
| Foster County | 3,358 | 7.4 | Very Low |
| Emmons County | 3,254 | 44.3 | Relatively Low |
| Nelson County | 3,016 | 7.9 | Very Low |
| Bowman County | 2,906 | 2.1 | Very Low |
| McIntosh County | 2,497 | 35.2 | Very Low |
| Hettinger County | 2,432 | 9.2 | Very Low |
| Kidder County | 2,377 | 3.1 | Very Low |
| Eddy County | 2,307 | 1.8 | Very Low |
| Renville County | 2,304 | 1.5 | Very Low |
| Grant County | 2,269 | 14.8 | Very Low |
| Griggs County | 2,245 | 5.1 | Very Low |
| Divide County | 2,167 | 5.8 | Very Low |
| Burke County | 2,156 | 1.0 | Very Low |
| Adams County | 2,145 | 4.5 | Very Low |
| Towner County | 2,079 | 2.0 | Very Low |
| Oliver County | 1,839 | 1.7 | Very Low |
| Logan County | 1,819 | 9.9 | Very Low |
| Steele County | 1,804 | 6.6 | Very Low |
| Golden Valley County | 1,653 | 13.1 | Very Low |
| Sheridan County | 1,303 | 5.0 | Very Low |
| Billings County | 1,024 | 0.9 | Very Low |
| Slope County | 766 | 0.6 | Very Low |
The county rows show FEMA's own county percentile scores and rating categories; the state figures above are our weighted means. County data cannot establish a property's safety. Expected loss is modeled annual loss per resident, not a premium quote. The insurance figure is what owners with a mortgage reported paying in 2024 (Census American Community Survey), not a current quote. For a specific home, check the address on FEMA's flood map and get insurance quotes before you commit. Our guide explains how to check natural disaster risk before you move.
Lowest FEMA county risk scores in North Dakota
- Stark County 37.3
- Stutsman County 46.4
- Morton County 49.6
- Williams County 53.7
- Grand Forks County 57.7
- Ward County 64.8
- Cass County 82.4
- Burleigh County 85.1
Cities in North Dakota
- Fargo, ND county-score mean 80.1
Frequently asked questions
Is North Dakota safe from natural disasters?
North Dakota's population-weighted county-score mean is 55.7 out of 100 (midrange county-score mean), #3 of 51 from the lowest mean in our state comparison. A state average cannot show whether an individual home is safe. No residents in this dataset live in counties FEMA rates relatively high or very high.
What natural disasters happen in North Dakota?
The highest population-weighted county hazard-score means in North Dakota are winter weather, hail, ice storm (means 94, 85, 85 on the 0–100 county-score scale). These are not national state percentiles.
Which counties have the lowest modeled risk scores in North Dakota?
Among counties with at least 20,000 people, the lowest FEMA county risk scores are in Stark County, Stutsman County, Morton County. Conditions vary within each county; check an individual address separately.