Enter any address in Morton County, North Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
Ice jam flooding along the Heart River in the Mandan area of Morton County in March 2019 damaged one home and destroyed over 1,000 bales of hay. In August 2011, historic flooding along the Missouri River, caused by heavy snowmelt and spring rains, overwhelmed dams and caused river, ground, and overland flooding across the region.
Over the past 30 years, Morton County has experienced 13 flood events and 9 flash flood events. NFIP claims data shows that properties in Zone A have the highest average payouts and water depths. Homeowners in areas prone to ice jams, river overflow, or with properties in Zone A or other high-risk flood zones should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
12 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Morton County, North Dakota has recorded 22 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 9 flash floods and 13 river or area floods. The county has received 27 federal disaster declarations, 17 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 Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 20, 2025 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 10, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 21, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Oct 4, 2013 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 5, 2011 |
| Flooding | Flood | Feb 14, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Apr 1, 2010 |
| Flooding | Flood | Feb 26, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 14, 2025 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Apr 11, 2023 | 450.00K |
| Flood | Mar 22, 2019 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2011 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 12, 2011 | 40.00K |
| Flood | Jun 2, 2011 | 10.00M |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2011 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Aug 1, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 17, 2010 | 150.00K |
Flash Flood — Sep 14, 2025
A low-pressure center moved north from South Dakota to North Dakota with a warm front lifting to the north. This resulted in strong low-level wind shear over central North Dakota. This shear combined with low cloud bases caused by a high amount of moisture in the lower atmosphere to produce multiple low-topped supercells which produced a low amount of lighting. From these supercells, 20 tornado...
Flood — Apr 11, 2023
The spring snow melt of 2023 saw many areas of flooding over North Dakota due to a record deep snow pack and relatively fast melt. Multiple counties experienced infrastructure damage due to the flooding. In addition, during the morning hours of April 16, a flood death (direct) occurred as a 54 year old female was driving a 2004 Ford Escape along ND Highway 66 near the intersection of 47th Avenu...
Flood — Mar 22, 2019
Ice jam related high water created flooding along the Heart River in the Mandan area of Morton County from March 22 to March 26. Most flood damages were limited to agriculture with over 1,000 large round bales of hay destroyed and four sheep lost, but there was also one home damaged.
Flash Flood — Jul 31, 2011
Tornado Watch Number 706 and Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 707 were in effect for this event. ||A strong capping inversion initially prevented storms from developing across North Dakota. Eventually, severe storms over northwest South Dakota continued to propagate northeast into far southwest and south central North Dakota during the mid to late evening as a surface warm front lifted north. T...
Flash Flood — Jun 12, 2011
A strong short wave trough ejecting into the Northern Plains, coupled with increasing large scale ascent ahead of an upper level jet streak, brought widespread severe weather to much of southwest and south central North Dakota during the evening hours of June 12th. Favorable low level vertical wind shear increased the threat for supercellular storms and isolated tornados. Tornado Watch number 4...
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 Morton 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 Morton 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.