Enter any address in Becker County, Minnesota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Becker County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 16 flash flood events and 12 flood events. For example, localized street flooding occurred on May 11, 2022, following thunderstorms. Heavy rainfall from slow-moving thunderstorms also caused flooding on July 11, 2016.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone X and Zone X_Unshaded have experienced the most claims. While Zone X claims averaged $10,319 with 0.2 feet of water depth, Zone X_Unshaded claims were higher at an average of $13,082 with 1.6 feet of water depth. A single claim in Zone A, designated for high-risk areas, resulted in a $20,000 payout with an average water depth of 4.0 feet.
Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, as well as those in Zone X_Unshaded with higher average water depths and payouts, should pay the most attention to flood risk. Properties with a history of claims, regardless of zone designation, warrant careful consideration.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Becker County, Minnesota has recorded 28 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 16 flash floods and 12 river or area floods. The county has received 19 federal disaster declarations, 8 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1966–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Mar 16, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 16, 2009 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 30, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 9, 2002 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Flood | Mar 23, 2001 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 17, 2000 |
| Severe Flooding, High Winds,severe Storms | Flood | Mar 21, 1997 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 11, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2016 | 2.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2012 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2011 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 19, 2011 | 4.00K |
| Flood | Apr 3, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 24, 2010 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 4, 2010 | 200.00K |
| Flood | Mar 22, 2009 | 5.00K |
Flash Flood — May 11, 2022
A pre-frontal trough brought thunderstorms into the area during the evening of May 11. Isolated severe thunderstorms brought hail up to 1.5 inches and wind gusts of 58 mph, along with localized street flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 11, 2016
By the early evening of July 11th, surface low pressure was located over northeast South Dakota, with a warm front extending out to the east into Minnesota. Slow moving thunderstorms formed north of the warm front and dropped large amounts of rain. Other thunderstorms formed later, along a line from Jamestown to Devils Lake to Rock Lake. One storm along this line produced strong winds from Lang...
Flood — May 27, 2012
In the early morning hours of the 27th, an 850mb warm front was draped west to east across southeast North Dakota and west central Minnesota. A strong low level jet kept redeveloping bands of strong thunderstorms, which dropped heavy amounts of rain from Moorhead to Perham to Wadena. A wide swath of two to six inches of rain fell along this line, which resulted in water flowing over fields and ...
Flash Flood — Jul 19, 2011
Another night in the long duration heat wave brought another round of nocturnal convection. Early in the morning of the 19th, a weak surface boundary set up across northern South Dakota into west central Minnesota. As the low level jet and warm advection increased after midnight, thunderstorms began to fire. The air mass was extremely unstable with precipitable water values over two inches. The...
Flood — Apr 3, 2011
The winter of 2010-2011 generally brought above normal amounts of snow to the area, but particularly so for portions of the central and southern Red River Valley. By April 1st, snow water equivalents were estimated to be about four to six inches in these areas with about two to four inches elsewhere. A see-saw pattern of temperatures led to a generally slow April snowmelt. At Fargo, the first s...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Becker County, Minnesota:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Becker County, Minnesota that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.