North Dakota natural disasters & FEMA declarations
ND · 30th most declarations of 51 states/DC
North Dakota has had 75 federally declared disasters since 1957, the 30th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Flood (33 declarations, about 44% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes" (Severe Storm), on Oct 22, 2025.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for North Dakota, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | 33 | 44% |
| Severe Storm | 25 | 33% |
| Fire | 4 | 5% |
| Snowstorm | 4 | 5% |
| Biological | 3 | 4% |
| Tornado | 3 | 4% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Coastal Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 61 |
| Emergency (EM) | 11 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 3 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How North Dakota's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 1 |
| 1960s | 4 |
| 1970s | 12 |
| 1980s | 2 |
| 1990s | 8 |
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 15 |
| 2020s | 16 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | DR-4895-ND |
| Sep 11, 2025 | Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | DR-4888-ND |
| Dec 24, 2024 | Wildfires And Straight-line Winds | Fire | DR-4852-ND |
| Oct 6, 2024 | Bear Den Fire | Fire | FM-5540-ND |
| Oct 6, 2024 | Elk Horn Fire | Fire | FM-5541-ND |
| Feb 15, 2024 | Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Winter Storm | DR-4760-ND |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near North Dakota
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to North Dakota in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has North Dakota had?
North Dakota has had 75 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1957, the 30th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in North Dakota?
The most common federally declared disaster type in North Dakota is "Flood", with 33 declarations — about 44% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in North Dakota?
The most recent FEMA declaration in North Dakota in this snapshot was "Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes" (Severe Storm), declared Oct 22, 2025.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18