Photo: Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Williston Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williston Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1999.
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 Williston 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
Tornadoes
Hail
Winter 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); winter storms is FEMA’s “Winter Weather” (snow, sleet and freezing rain). 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 Williston Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Williston Township, and Williston Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 6%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
A lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Williston Township’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $569K a year in losses across Williston Township: $235K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Williston Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1999
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Williston Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Williston 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: Williams County.The storms Williston Township remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Williams County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Williston Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19991 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow, Ice, Ground Saturation, Lanslides, Mudslides, and Tor, declared for Williams County
- 20031 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Williams County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Williston Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Williston Township archive →Williston Township and its neighbors
Williston Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri Ridge Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Williston | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Williston Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Tri Township | — | 238 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Judson Township | — | 577 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Stony Creek Township | — | 727 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Trenton Township | — | 590 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 Williston 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.
- 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.
- Keep a shovel, a blanket and snacks in the car.
- Clear snow from furnace and dryer vents.
- Check on older neighbors when the power goes out.
- 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 Williston Township
Is Williston Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williston Township has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Williston Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Williston Township since 1999, $43K in all, or 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Williston 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 Williams County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Williston Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Williston Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Williston Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Williston Township’s rate for it is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Williston Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Williston 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.