Valley City Municipal Auditorium · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Valley City than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Valley City gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 245 claims here since 1979.
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 Valley City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Valley City 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
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 Valley City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Valley City, and Valley City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Tornadoes add 8%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D #23 of 23 in North Dakota; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Valley City’s residents live in 3 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, Valley City has more expected damage per building than 100% of North Dakota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.1M a year in losses across Valley City: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Valley City flood? Yes: 245 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Valley City, from FEMA’s records: 74.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding47 claims · $144K
- The Winter storm1 claim · $1K
Valley City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Barnes County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Valley City
Disasters that paid out in Valley City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Valley City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$274K to the City of Valley City for repairs
- 2023Severe Winter Storm and Straight-line Winds$136K to the City of Valley City for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$1.4M to the City of Valley City for repairs
- 2020Flooding$36K to the City of Valley City for repairs
- 2019Flooding$96K to the City of Valley City for repairs
- 2011Flooding53 households applied for aid$54K aid approved$3.3M to the City of Valley City for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2010Flooding$32K to the City of Valley City for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding891 households applied for aid$448K aid approved$6.7M to the City of Valley City for repairs34 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground Saturation$64K to the City of Valley City for repairs
- 1999Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow, Ice, Ground Saturation, Lanslides, Mudslides, and Tor$1.8M to the City of Valley City for repairs
Barnes County has had 31 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 Valley City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Valley City archive →Get ready for what Valley City 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.
- 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.
- Valley City residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Valley City
Is Valley City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Valley City has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Valley City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 245 claims in Valley City since 1979, $1.6M in all, or 74.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (47).
Is Valley City 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 Barnes County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Valley City?
Valley City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% 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 Valley City?
By FEMA money that reached Valley City, Severe Storms and Flooding (2009): 891 households applied for aid, $448K approved, and $6.7M to the City of Valley City for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 47 paid, $144K.
Is Valley City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Valley City’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Valley City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Valley City’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.