Bowman County, ND
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Bowman County has experienced 13 federally declared disasters since 1978, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Bowman County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, wildfire, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 67% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (24th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Bowman County has been designated in 13 declarations since 1978, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (5), biological (2), snowstorm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2006 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Record And/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001 | Tornado | Severe Winter Storms And Tornadoes |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Blizzard Conditions |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 total declarations since 1978.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 56.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 2.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 7.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 6.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 11.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 40.1 | 36 | 0 | $302K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 13.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 58.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 40 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 52.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 6.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 25.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 7.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Bowman County ranks in the 24th percentile (Very low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 24th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 25th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 59th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 22nd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 19th | Very low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 66th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 67th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 61.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 36 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 27 in 2016–20 vs 9 in 2021–25 (-67% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Bowman County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Bowman County, North Dakota are winter weather, wildfire, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Bowman County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Bowman County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1978, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Bowman County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Bowman County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Bowman County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Golden Valley County, ND has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Slope County, ND has the lowest (Very Low). Bowman County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Bowman County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Bowman County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Bowman County's composite score of 2 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 2% of US counties.