8 flood insurance claims·$67,712 paid·9 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 Oliver 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.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 4 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 1997, with 2 claims and $19,865 paid, the year of Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard Conditions and Severe Flooding,severe Winter Storms, Snowmelt, Spring Rains.
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.
5 NOAA storm reports from Oliver County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the North Dakota flood stories →
21 federal disaster declarations since 1966, 9 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Jun 20, 2025 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Apr 22, 2022 |
| Flooding | Apr 5, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Apr 1, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Jan 20, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Mar 13, 2009 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Record And/or Near Record Snow | Oct 4, 2005 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Aug 29, 2005 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
11 since 1996: 5 flash floods and 6 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 30, 2021 | $35,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 12, 2011 | $20,000 |
| Flood | Jun 2, 2011 | $500,000 |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2011 | — |
| Flood | Aug 1, 2011 | — |
| Flood | Mar 6, 2009 | $88,000 |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2009 | $99,000 |
| Flash Flood | May 7, 2005 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Aug 30, 2021. A few thunderstorms developed during the late morning hours over central North Dakota where southerly low level flow increased instability, and deep layer shear was elevated. Initially, a nearly stationary supercell developed over Oliver County. The storm produced large hail and damaging wind gusts, along with torrential rain that led to flash flooding and damaging gravel roads. The storm eventually started moving…
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 468 was initially iss…
Flood · Jun 2, 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 Montana as well. Rocky Mountain snowpack was four to six times normal. Flooding was along the Missouri River from the Garrison Dam to the South Dakota border. Dams were overwhelmed by the amoun…
Flood · Jul 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 Montana as well. Rocky Mountain snowpack was four to six times normal. Flooding was along the Missouri River from the Garrison Dam to the South Dakota border. Dams were overwhelmed by the amoun…
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 Oliver 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.