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Past Disaster Archives

The most famous disaster in North Dakota was the flooding of the entire Red River Valley of the North.  Cities along its path were devastated by waters that overflowed from its normal 100 yard riverbed to become 25 miles wide.

In the years of 1997 and  2000, there were 2 Presidential declarations of disasters each year.

North Dakota has had many such declarations.   

 June 13, 2000 - Flooding in rural communities

 June 19, 2000 - Flooding in Fargo

 August 12, 2000 - Straight line winds in Devils Lake

June 2005 - Flash Flooding in Edgeley area

July 12, 2006 - Coleharbor Tornado

August 26, 2008 - EF4 Tornado in Northwood

FEMA-DR-1645-ND - 2006

Severe storms, flooding, and ground saturation led to a Presidential disaster declaration on June 5, 2006 for Cass, Cavalier, Grand Forks, Pembina, Ransom, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Towner, Traill and Walsh Counties and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Reservation. The declaration was for public assistance.

FEMA-DR-1621-ND - 2006

Cass, Ransom, Richland and Sargent Counties received a Presidential disaster declaration on January 4, 2006 for a severe winter storm. The declaration was for public assistance.

FEMA-DR-3247-ND - 2005

On September 13, 2005, North Dakota received a statewide emergency declaration due to emergency conditions resulting from the influx of evacuees from areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The declaration was needed to provide assistance to the state in providing sheltering operations to hurricane evacuees.

FEMA-DR-1616-ND - 2005

On November 21, 2005, 22 counties and one reservation received a Presidential disaster declaration for severe winter storms and near record snow. The counties of Benson, billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, Dunn, Golden Valley, McHenry, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Oliver, Pierce, Renville, Rolette, Sheridan, Stark, Towner, Ward, and the Fort Berthold Reservation were all declared for Public Assistance. Jurisdictions declared for Category B (snow removal and emergency protective measures) include the counties of Billings, Bowman, Burke, Dunn, Golden Valley, McKenzie, Morton, Mountrail, Stark, Ward, and Williams. On January 13, 2006, Slope County was declared for both public assistance and category B.

FEMA-DR-1597-ND - 2005

On July 22, 2005, 20 counties and 2 reservations received a major disaster declaration for severe summer storms, flooding and ground saturation. The declared jurisdictions included the counties of Benson, Bottineau, Cavalier, Dickey, Grand Forks, Griggs, Kidder, LaMoure, McHenry, Nelson, Pierce, Ramsey, Richland, Sargent, Sioux, Traill, Walsh, Ward and the Turtle Mountain and Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservations. On August 3, 2005 6 more counties and a reservation were added onto the declaration. These included the counties of Mountrail, Pembina, Ransom, Renville, Rolette, Towner and the Three Affiliated Tribes reservation. The public assistance program was made available for these jurisdictions and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program was made available to all counties and reservations in North Dakota.

FEMA-DR-1515-ND - 2004

Heavy 2004 spring snowfalls and rain on frozen and saturated ground in north central and north eastern North Dakota formed the basis for flooding. On March 29, 2004, Governor John Hoeven issued a flood emergency declaration for 10 North Dakota counties and the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation. The declaration was upgraded to a disaster declaration on April 20, 2004, when Governor Hoeven requested President Bush issue a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration for North Dakota. On May 5, 2004, President Bush declared 10 North Dakota counties and the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation a major disaster as a result of severe storms and flooding beginning March 26. Counties included as part of the initial disaster declaration are Benson, Cavalier, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Steele, Traill and Walsh. On June 9, the disaster declaration was amended to include Bottineau, Burke, Mountrail, Renville, Towner, and Ward counties, making them eligible to apply for federal public assistance. These counties experienced widespread damage to rural electric cooperatives, as well as impacts to roads, bridges and culverts.

FEMA-DR-1483-ND - 2003

On August 1, 2003 North Dakota received a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration for damage due to severe storms and high winds that occurred June 24-25, 2003. This declaration made available Public Assistance Program funds to rural electric cooperatives in Barnes County. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds were made available for all North Dakota counties and reservations.

FEMA-DR-1431-ND - 2002

On September 10, 2002, President Bush signed a declaration of major disaster for five counties and one Indian reservation. The declaration was the result of heavy rains, high winds, hail, and tornado activity that caused damage to roads, culverts, water and septic systems, and other public infrastructure from June 8, 2002 to August 11, 2002. The Public Assistance Program became available in Grand Forks, Pembina, Stutsman, Traill, and Walsh Counties and the Three Affiliated Tribes of For Berthold Indian Reservation. All the counties and Indian Reservations in the State were eligible for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program assistance.

FEMA-DR-1376-ND - 2001

President Bush signed a declaration of major disaster in the State of North Dakota on May 28, 2001. Severe storm activity with associated flooding, ground saturation and damaging winds that caused damage from March 1, 2002 through August 9, 2001 resulted in 36 counties and two Indian reservations being designated for the Public Assistance Program. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program was made available for all counties and reservations within the State.

FEMA-DR-1334-ND - 2000

On June 28, 2000, within one day of a request by Governor Edward T. Schafer, the President issued a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration for North Dakota for severe storms, flooding and ground saturation. Beginning in early April, high winds and heavy rainfall in excess of 10 inches caused flooding in central and northeastern North Dakota. High water tables, resulting from eight consecutive years of flooding, continued to exacerbate safety- and health-related problems in some areas of eastern and central North Dakota. This declaration made available Public Assistance and Individual Assistance to 26 counties and three Indian reservations. Thirteen contiguous counties were also eligible for Individual Assistance. All North Dakota counties and reservations were eligible to apply for Hazard Mitigation funds.

FEMA-DR-1279-ND - 1999

North Dakota received a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration on June 8, 1999, for severe storms, flooding, snow and ice, ground saturation, landslides and mudslides and tornadoes. This declaration made available Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for three reservations and 39 counties. All North Dakota counties and reservations were eligible to apply for Hazard Mitigation funds.

FEMA-DR-1220-ND - 1998

On June 14, Governor Schafer received word from the White House that President Clinton approved his request for a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration for flooding in 13 counties and two Indian reservations, Spirit Lake Tribe and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. That declaration was later expanded to include three additional eastern North Dakota counties. The request was based on excessive precipitation on lands already saturated by six years of disastrous flooding. In addition, land-locked Devils Lake continued its historic rise, laying claim to agricultural and residential property. The presidential declaration made available the Public Assistance and Individual Assistance Programs for the 16 counties and two Indian Reservations. All North Dakota counties and reservations were eligible to apply for Hazard Mitigation funds.

FEMA-DR-1174-ND - 1997

On April 7, 1997, the President issued a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration for North Dakota for the state’s most catastrophic disaster. Floodwaters forced more than 50,000 North Dakotans from their homes and caused more than two billion dollars in damages. The Red River flooded 2,2000 square miles in North Dakota, an area twice the size of Rhode Island. The declaration covered damages resulting from flooding, severe winter storms, high winds, heavy spring rain and ice jams. These conditions began on February 28, 1997. This declaration made available Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation and Individual Assistance to all 53 counties in the state of North Dakota.