FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Hay Creek Township than in 85% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hay Creek Township gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #21 of 23 in North Dakota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%), then hail (36%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Hay Creek Township 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
Hail
Tornadoes
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 Hay Creek Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hay Creek Township, and Hay Creek Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 36%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #21 of 23 in North Dakota; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hay Creek Township’s residents live in 5 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, Hay Creek Township has more expected damage per building than 91% of North Dakota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Hay Creek Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hay Creek Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Hay Creek Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Hay Creek Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Burleigh County.The storms Hay Creek Township remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Burleigh County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Hay Creek Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
Burleigh County has had 19 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.
Hay Creek Township and its neighbors
Hay Creek Township is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gibbs Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hay Creek Township | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Bismarck | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 357 |
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 Hay Creek Township 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Hay Creek Township
Is Hay Creek Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hay Creek Township has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #21 of 23 in North Dakota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%) and hail (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Hay Creek Township 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 Burleigh County, 42% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hay Creek Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hay Creek Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Hay Creek Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Hay Creek Township’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hay Creek Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hay Creek Township’s 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.