North Dakota · Preparedness Guide

North Dakota's hazard profile is dominated by its climate and its flat geography. The Red River of the North — which flows north into Canada through Fargo and Grand Forks — has some of the worst flooding in the country; the flat valley has almost no natural flood protection, and a 1% rise in the river's crest can translate to miles of additional inundation. The 1997 Red River flood destroyed Grand Forks. The 2009 flood crested at a record 40.84 feet in Fargo, mobilizing 3.5 million sandbags. Winter on the open plains produces some of the most dangerous conditions in the country — ground blizzards with near-zero visibility for hundreds of miles are routine. The Bakken oil boom transformed North Dakota's economy; its bust cycles create mass layoffs overnight. And wind chills of -50°F or colder are not rare in January and February.