Ward County, ND
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Ward County has experienced 28 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm And Flooding in 2022. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Ward County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, cold wave, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 53% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (26th 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. Ward County has been designated in 28 declarations since 1969, covering 6 disaster types including flood (14), severe storm (8), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2014 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2010 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 total declarations since 1969.
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 | Relatively Low | 79.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 41.9 | 1 | 0 | $90K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 12.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 29.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 66.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 83.9 | 68 | 0 | $350K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 61.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 98.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 85.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 95.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 6.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 33.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 77.3 | 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
Ward County ranks in the 26th 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 | 26th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 15th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 7th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 51st | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 76th | 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 | 30th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 32nd | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 32.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 69 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 47 in 2016–20 vs 22 in 2021–25 (-53% — 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 Ward County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Ward County, North Dakota are winter weather, cold wave, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Ward County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Ward County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2022. The most common disaster type on record is flood (14 declarations).
Has Ward County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Ward County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm And Flooding in 2022.
How does Ward County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, McLean County, ND has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Burke County, ND has the lowest (Very Low). Ward County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Ward County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Ward 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. Ward County's composite score of 65 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 65% of US counties.