Enter any address in Sargent County, North Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flooding from snowmelt and heavy rainfall are the dominant flood types in Sargent County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA has recorded 23 flood events and 22 flash flood events. For example, in April 19, snowmelt from the Minnesota side of the Red River Valley contributed to flooding in low-lying areas and roads. More recently, on June 20, 13, thunderstorms brought heavy rain across southeast North Dakota, leading to flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that claims have been filed in Zone X and areas with unknown flood risk. Claims in Zone X averaged $21,931 with an average water depth of 0.5 feet, while claims in unknown zones averaged $294 with a higher average water depth of 1.5 feet. Homeowners in areas prone to river overflow, low-lying regions, and properties without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Sargent County, North Dakota has recorded 45 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 22 flash floods and 23 river or area floods. The county has received 32 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 (1966–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Winter Storm | Dec 25, 2023 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 10, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Straight-line Winds | Snowstorm | Nov 9, 2022 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 22, 2022 |
| Flooding | Flood | Apr 1, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Flooding | Flood | Oct 9, 2019 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 21, 2019 |
| Flooding | Flood | Feb 14, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 8, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2013 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2013 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Apr 3, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 18, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 22, 2009 | 5.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2009 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2009 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Jun 15, 2007 | 0.00K |
Flood — Apr 8, 2019
The winter snow melted first on the Minnesota side of the southern Red River Valley. Visible satellite imagery confirmed this fact, showing a distinct snow free north to south band that extended roughly 20 or so miles east of the Red River from Grant to Wilkin to Clay counties. In Fargo, the snow depth fell to zero on April 6th. However, a blizzard from April 10th to 12th brought more snow to t...
Flash Flood — Jun 20, 2013
Several rounds of late night thunderstorms dropped large hail, strong winds, and heavy rain across mainly southeast North Dakota.
Flood — Apr 3, 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 — 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...
Flood — Apr 1, 2010
Water levels remained high through the early part of April, especially along the Red River. One saving grace from even higher water levels was a general precipitation deficit. Between the fourth and the twenty-eighth, there were only two days (12th/13th) with measurable precipitation at the first order climate reporting sites of Grand Forks and Fargo. Even then, only 0.39 inches of rain fell at...
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 Sargent 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 Sargent 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.