Enter any address in Ramsey County, North Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flooding from both general floods and flash floods has been a recurring concern in Ramsey County, ND, with 45 flood events and 17 flash flood events recorded over the last 30 years. Recent examples include a flash flood event on September 20, 2019, associated with thunderstorms developing along a cold front, and a flood event on April 10, 2011, following a winter with above-normal snowfall in the Devils Lake and Sheyenne River basins.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates a significant number of claims have been filed across various flood zones. Zone D has seen the highest number of claims at 336, with an average payout of $31,228. Zone X and Zone X_Unshaded also show substantial claim activity, with average payouts of $32,424 and $38,025 respectively. Properties in Zone A have experienced the highest average payouts at $43,955. Residents in all designated flood zones, particularly those in Zone A and Zone D, should be aware of their flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
17 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Ramsey County, North Dakota has recorded 62 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 45 river or area floods. The county has received 29 federal disaster declarations, 16 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1966–2022)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 22, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 17, 2013 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 22, 2013 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 5, 2011 |
| Flooding | Flood | Feb 14, 2011 |
| Flooding | Flood | Feb 26, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 13, 2009 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Coastal Storm | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 11, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 20, 2019 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2016 | 0.50K |
| Flood | Apr 10, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2011 | 200.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2011 | 250.00K |
| Flood | Aug 1, 2011 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 21, 2010 | 25.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2010 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Sep 11, 2025
Slow moving thunderstorms produced flash flooding and hail across portions of the Devils Lake basin.
Flash Flood — Sep 20, 2019
By the late afternoon of the 20th, a weak area of surface low pressure set up near Devils Lake, with the warm front extending out to the east-southeast. Temperatures had risen into the mid 70s to low 80s in the warm sector, with dew points in the upper 60s to lower 70s. To the southwest of the low, a cold front extended back toward Bismarck. Just before 5 pm CDT, a fairly solid line of thunders...
Flash Flood — Aug 10, 2016
Late in the morning of August 10th, an east to west oriented warm front was located across central South Dakota into the southern half of Minnesota. Thunderstorms formed quickly north of the warm front, mainly along the North and South Dakota border. These storms initially produced large hail. However, as the storms pushed east of the North and South Dakota border region and into portions of we...
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 — May 1, 2011
Devils Lake began the month at a level of about 1453.60 feet MSL and rose to a level of about 1454.25 feet MSL by the end of the month. Stump Lake also started at a level of about 1453.25 feet MSL and ended the month at about 1454.05 feet MSL.
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 Ramsey 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 Ramsey 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.