Enter any address in Griggs County, North Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is a notable flood hazard in Griggs County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 13 flood events and 7 flash flood events. For example, on August 1, 2011, slow-moving severe thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall to areas including Hope, North Dakota. Spring snowmelt also contributes to flood risk, as seen with the flooding on April 10, 2011, following a winter with above-normal snowfall in river basins.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties with unknown flood zone designations have experienced claims with an average payout of $1,180 and an average water depth of 0.5 feet. Properties in Zone X have seen higher average payouts of $8,829 with an average water depth of 1.0 foot. Homeowners in areas with unknown flood zone designations or those located in Zone X should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
5 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Griggs County, North Dakota has recorded 20 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 7 flash floods and 13 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations, 10 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1966–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Aug 7, 2025 |
| Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 20, 2025 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 22, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Flooding | Flood | Oct 9, 2019 |
| Flooding | Flood | Feb 14, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 13, 2009 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Ground Saturation | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 10, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 1, 2011 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2011 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 23, 2010 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Mar 18, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 22, 2009 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Apr 6, 2009 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 18, 2007 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 28, 2006 | — |
| Flood | May 31, 2004 | — |
Flood — Apr 10, 2011
The winter of 2010-2011 generally brought above normal amounts of snow to the area, but particularly so for the Devils Lake basin, the Sheyenne River basin, and the Wild Rice River basin. 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 snowme...
Flood — Aug 1, 2011
This episode began late in the evening of July 31st and continued into the early morning hours of August 1st, as severe thunderstorms from central North Dakota moved into eastern North Dakota. Many of these storms showed a bow structure, or a structure indicative of strong winds. The storms were also slow movers and several rounds of them tracked over the same area. Hope, ND, was hit by both st...
Flash Flood — Aug 1, 2011
This episode began late in the evening of July 31st and continued into the early morning hours of August 1st, as severe thunderstorms from central North Dakota moved into eastern North Dakota. Many of these storms showed a bow structure, or a structure indicative of strong winds. The storms were also slow movers and several rounds of them tracked over the same area. Hope, ND, was hit by both st...
Flash Flood — May 23, 2010
By early evening of the 22nd, a triple point had formed over north central South Dakota, with a surface boundary extending to its north and south. A warm front extended to the southeast, or down into southwest Minnesota. Near this triple point, temperatures had warmed into the mid to upper 80s with dew points in the mid to upper 60s. The heat and humidity was more limited in eastern North Dakot...
Flood — Mar 18, 2010
Several unusual factors combined to set off spring flooding in 2010. By early March, roughly 40 to 50 inches of snow had fallen across eastern North Dakota and the northwest quarter of Minnesota. From March 7th through 15th, the first order climate stations at Fargo and Grand Forks stayed almost entirely above 32 degrees. Also from March 4th through March 18th, daily average temperatures at the...
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 Griggs County, North Dakota:
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 Griggs County, North Dakota 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.