Stark County, ND
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Stark County has experienced 16 federally declared disasters since 1966, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Stark County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, hail, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 35% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Stark County has been designated in 16 declarations since 1966, covering 5 disaster types including flood (7), severe storm (5), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2006 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Record And/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Ground Saturation |
| 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Blizzard Conditions |
| 1997 | Flood | Severe Flooding,Severe Winter Storms, Snowmelt, Spring Rains |
Showing the 10 most recent of 16 total declarations since 1966.
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 | 54.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 22.3 | 1 | 0 | $500K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 16.8 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 23.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 47.9 | 3 | 0 | $300K |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 85.7 | 71 | 0 | $1.3M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 53.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 96.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 76.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 82.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 65.6 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 28.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 17.3 | 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
Stark County ranks in the 31st percentile (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 | 31st | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 19th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 9th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 40th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 84th | High |
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 | 33rd | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 34th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 42.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 76 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 46 in 2016–20 vs 30 in 2021–25 (-35% — 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 Stark County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Stark County, North Dakota are winter weather, hail, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Stark County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Stark County has received 16 federal disaster declarations since 1966, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is flood (7 declarations).
Has Stark County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Stark County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Stark County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Mercer County, ND has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Slope County, ND has the lowest (Very Low). Stark County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Stark County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Stark 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. Stark County's composite score of 37 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 37% of US counties.