Photo: Brenda Riskey · Public domainFor ice storms, Grand Forks’s building-damage rate is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grand Forks gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #10 of 23 in North Dakota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then tornadoes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 2,466 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Grand Forks’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Grand Forks faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Hail
Ice storms
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Grand Forks’ grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Grand Forks, and Grand Forks’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 7%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B #10 of 23 in North Dakota; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Grand Forks’ residents live in 18 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical North Dakota town has lower expected damage than 59% of U.S. towns; within the state, Grand Forks has less expected damage per building than 59% of North Dakota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.4M a year in losses across Grand Forks: $12.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Grand Forks flood? Yes: 2,466 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Grand Forks, from FEMA’s records: 87.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Severe flooding10 claims · $16K
- The Late spring storms3 claims · $3K
Grand Forks is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Grand Forks County.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Grand Forks
Disasters that paid out in Grand Forks itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Grand Forks), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes$140K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs
- 2023Flooding$8K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$228K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Flooding$262K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Flooding$189K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs
- 2019Flooding$122K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs
Show all 15
- 2011Flooding$87K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Flooding$66K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs
- 2010Flooding$13K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding47 households applied for aid$25K aid approved$414K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs20 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground Saturation$317K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes$51K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground Saturation$1.9M to the City of Grand Forks for repairs29 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Severe Storms, Flooding and Ground Saturation$2K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs
- 1999Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow, Ice, Ground Saturation, Lanslides, Mudslides, and Tor$691K to the City of Grand Forks for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Grand Forks County has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Grand Forks after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Grand Forks archive →Grand Forks and its neighbors
Grand Forks has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 2,466 |
| East Grand Forks | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 1,011 |
| Grand Forks Township | — | 590 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Rhinehart Township | — | 139 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Rye Township | — | 472 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Falconer Township | — | 203 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Brenna Township | — | 929 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Grand Forks faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
- Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
- Keep sand or salt by the door.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
- Grand Forks residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Grand Forks
Is Grand Forks at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Grand Forks has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #10 of 23 in North Dakota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and tornadoes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Grand Forks flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2,466 claims in Grand Forks since 1978, $71.2M in all, or 87.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 28 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Severe flooding (10).
Is Grand Forks in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Grand Forks County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Grand Forks?
Grand Forks is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Grand Forks?
By FEMA money that reached Grand Forks, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground Saturation (2001): $1.9M to the City of Grand Forks for repairs. By flood claims, Severe flooding: 10 paid, $16K.
Is Grand Forks at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Grand Forks’ rate for it is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Grand Forks.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Grand Forks’ residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.