3 flood insurance claims·$1,800 paid·15 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Bottineau County, North Dakota. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Riverine overflow and heavy multi-day rainfall dominate the flood history of Bottineau County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA recorded 9 general flood events and 7 flash flood events.
Significant historical events include the historic flooding of May and July 2011, driven by significant winter snows, spring rains, and overwhelmed dams along the Souris (Mouse) River, which contributed to statewide costs estimated at 1.5 billion dollars. Later events, such as the rapid snowmelt and upstream dam releases in June 2013, damaged county and township roads near the river. Another major event occurred in June 2014 when heavy multi-day rainfall dropped 3 to 5 inches of rain across the region, resulting in extensive damage and a Federal Disaster Declaration.
NFIP claims data shows minimal historical payouts across zones, including Zone A (1 claim, average 0 inches recorded water depth, average $0 payout), Zone UNKNOWN (1 claim, average 0 inches recorded water depth, average $1,800 payout), and Zone X (1 claim, average 0 inches recorded water depth, average $0 payout). Properties located near rivers and along designated flood zones should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
The worst year was 1979, with 1 claims and $1,800 paid, the year of Severe Storms, Snowmelt & Flooding.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
7 NOAA storm reports from Bottineau County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the North Dakota flood stories →
27 federal disaster declarations since 1969, 15 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Apr 22, 2022 |
| Flooding | Mar 23, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Jun 25, 2014 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | May 17, 2013 |
| Flooding | Apr 22, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Apr 29, 2011 |
| Flooding | Feb 14, 2011 |
| Flooding | Feb 26, 2010 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
16 since 1996: 7 flash floods and 9 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 28, 2014 | $296,000 |
| Flood | Jun 6, 2013 | $525,000 |
| Flood | May 1, 2011 | $250,000 |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2011 | — |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2011 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2009 | $10,000 |
| Flood | Mar 6, 2009 | $35,000 |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2009 | $191,000 |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flood · Jun 28, 2014. Very heavy rain continued over several days at the end of June. Three to five inches of rain fell from Minot through Sherwood, and from Crosby through Lignite to Stanley. The highest rain amount was seven inches from Renville County. Another high amount was 4.50 inches from Ward County. Damage was extensive. The state of North Dakota requested and was granted a Federal Disaster Declaration as a result of damages f…
Flood · Jun 6, 2013. A late season rapid snow melt caused flooding along the Souris (Mouse) River and Des Lacs River through north central North Dakota. Additionally, there were necessary releases from upstream dams in North Dakota and Saskatchewan, Canada, due to rapid snow melt there and additional heavy rains in May and early June. This caused the flooding to continue. Homes in the Project Road area near Burlington took on water. M…
Flood · May 1, 2011. This was part of historic flooding in North Dakota with statewide costs estimated around 1.5 billion dollars. Flooding was the result of significant winter snows and significant spring rains, not only in North Dakota but in Saskatchewan, Canada, as well. Flooding was along the Souris (Mouse) River from where it enters the United States from Saskatchewan, Canada, to where it crosses into Manitoba, Canada. Dams were…
Flood · Jun 1, 2011. This was part of historic flooding in North Dakota with statewide costs estimated around 1.5 billion dollars. Flooding was the result of significant winter snows and significant spring rains, not only in North Dakota but in Saskatchewan, Canada, as well. Flooding was along the Souris (Mouse) River from where it enters the United States from Saskatchewan, Canada, to where it crosses into Manitoba, Canada. Dams were…
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Bottineau County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.