26 flood insurance claims·$374,072 paid·14 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 Towner 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.
Standard river and overland flooding dominate the flood risk profile in Towner County, accounting for 14 events compared to 8 flash flood events over the last 30 years according to NOAA data.
Historical events illustrate these seasonal hazards. In May 2013, melting snow caused overland flooding that closed numerous rural roads. A subsequent heavy snowpack and rapid melt led to widespread flooding in March and April 2017, driven by high snow water equivalents and warm weather.
Homeowners, real estate agents, and journalists should pay the most attention to properties in FEMA-designated Zone X and Zone X_UNSHADED, which experienced the highest volume of National Flood Insurance Program claims. Zone X recorded 12 claims with an average payout of $22,542 and an average recorded water depth of 1 inch. Zone X_UNSHADED also recorded 12 claims, with a higher average payout of $70,000 and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches. Additionally, Zone D accounted for 2 claims with an average payout of $16,786 and an average recorded water depth of 0 inches.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 1 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 2001, with 11 claims and $70,000 paid, the year of Severe Storms, Flooding, & Ground Saturation.
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 Towner County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the North Dakota flood stories →
28 federal disaster declarations since 1969, 14 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Flooding | Apr 10, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Apr 22, 2022 |
| Flooding | Mar 23, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | May 17, 2013 |
| Flooding | Apr 22, 2013 |
| Flooding | Apr 5, 2011 |
| Flooding | Feb 14, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Mar 13, 2009 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
22 since 1996: 8 flash floods and 14 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Mar 30, 2017 | $50,000 |
| Flood | Apr 1, 2017 | $50,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 3, 2016 | $15,000 |
| Flood | Apr 28, 2013 | $5,000 |
| Flood | May 1, 2013 | $5,000 |
| Flood | Apr 10, 2011 | — |
| Flash Flood | Aug 10, 2010 | $5,000 |
| Flood | Mar 22, 2009 | $5,000 |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flood · Mar 30, 2017. Over the winter of 2016-2017, the most snow fell across the Devils Lake basin up into northeast North Dakota. By late March 2017, snow water equivalents in this area ranged from 3 to 4 inches, with isolated pockets of 5 inches. There was even more snow in southern Manitoba, and some of this water would come down the Pembina River in northeast North Dakota. A push of warm weather which began on March 28th, started…
Flood · Apr 1, 2017. Over the winter of 2016-2017, the most snow fell across the Devils Lake basin up into northeast North Dakota. By late March 2017, snow water equivalents in this area ranged from 3 to 4 inches, with isolated pockets of 5 inches. There was even more snow in southern Manitoba, and some of this water would come down the Pembina River in northeast North Dakota. A push of warm weather which began on March 28th and conti…
Flash Flood · Aug 3, 2016. By mid to late afternoon of August 3rd, a cold front had moved into central North Dakota. Ahead of the cold front, a warm front extended out to the east, or along the Canadian border. This put all of eastern North Dakota and the northwest quarter of Minnesota in the warm sector, where afternoon highs reached into the 80s to around 90, with dew point readings well into the 60s. A ribbon of extreme instability poole…
Flood · Apr 28, 2013. Melting snow caused overland flooding across portions of northeast North Dakota. Many rural roads were closed due to high water from the melting snow.
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 Towner 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.