FACT SHEET

North Dakota Flood Fact Sheet

Spring and Summer Floods

Fast melting snow combined with severe storms and heavy rainfall has the potential to cause extensive flooding this spring–particularly in North Dakota.  
With bodies of water throughout the state such as the Red River Basin, North Dakota is at a heightened flood risk in the spring and summer months.  Property 
owners and renters need to be aware of these risks, and financially prepare for the damage floods can cause.

Now is the time for home and business owners to be reminded of the dangers of flooding and the importance of protecting their homes, businesses and assets 
with flood insurance–before the spring flooding season begins and it’s too late.

NORTH DAKOTA FLOOD RISKS
Snow Melt. Spring thaw can produce large amounts of runoff in a short period of time, as each cubic foot of compacted snow contains gallons of water.  
Because the ground is hard and frozen, water cannot penetrate and be reabsorbed.  The water then runs off the surface and flows into lakes, streams and 
rivers, causing excess water to spill over their banks.

Flash Flooding. A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas in less than six hours, which is caused by intense rainfall from a thunderstorm or 
several thunderstorms.  Flash floods can also occur from the collapse of a man-made structure or ice dam. 

NORTH DAKOTA FLOOD FACTS
In the past five years, North Dakota experienced 10 federally declared disasters.  For example, in March 2009, spring flooding along the Red River Valley 
caused more than $150 million in damages across the state, spanning more than 40 counties that were declared Federal disaster areas. In April 2006, 
North Dakota was hit by a severe spring storm that caused $232,000 in insured damages and resulted in Federal Disaster Declarations in 11 counties.   

Residents may also remember the Great Midwest Floods of 1993, which was one of the largest floods in U.S. history.  From April through October of that year,
nine Midwest states, including North Dakota, suffered widespread flood devastation.  The result was nearly $273 million in insured flood damage and an 
estimated $15 billion in total damages.  North Dakota incurred approximately $414 million of these damages.

Currently there are nearly 13,000 flood insurance policies in force in North Dakota, approximately 3,000 of which are in high-risk areas.  However, many 
state residents remain at risk as less than six percent of households are covered by a flood insurance policy. 

Residents need to be reminded that most homeowners’ policies do not cover flood damage–only flood insurance policies provide financial protection from 
flooding.  Flood insurance policies typically take 30 days to become effective, so the time to get protected is now!

BE FLOODSMART – REDUCE YOUR RISK
A flood does not have to be a catastrophic event to bring high out-of-pocket costs, and you do not have to live in a high-risk flood area to suffer 
flood damage. Illinois property owners should remember to:

Purchase a flood insurance policy if you do not already have one or review your current insurance policy to ensure your home and contents are 
adequately covered.

Not rely on disaster assistance. This is usually provided in the form of a loan, which must be paid back with interest.

Make a flood plan.  Plan evacuation routes.  Keep important papers in a safe, waterproof place. Conduct a home inventory; itemize and 
take pictures of possessions.

Visit FloodSmart.gov (or call 1-800-427-2419) to learn more about individual flood risk, explore coverage options and to find an agent in your area. 
Flood insurance may be more affordable than you think.  An average flood policy costs around $570 a year, and rates start as low as $129 a year for homes 
in moderate-to-low risk areas.