Rolette County, ND Environment & Hazard Risk

• WildfireRelatively Moderate$3.3M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 370 years
• Winter weatherRelatively High$531K/yr expected annual loss, about 20 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively High$524K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$3.9M/yr expected annual loss, about 23 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$2,069/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
• Strong windRelatively Low$257K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• HailRelatively Low$105K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.7 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Low$335K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• DroughtVery Low$14K/yr expected annual loss, about 12 events a year
• LightningRelatively Low$60.1K/yr expected annual loss, about 26 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$10.1K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 12,048 years
• Heat waveVery Low$16.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

2 of 5,318 (0.0%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

28

Insured in high-risk zones

1 (4%)

Flood claims since 1978

4

Claims paid since 1978

$58.5K

• Hail63
• Blizzard44 · 1 death
• Thunderstorm Wind39 · 1 death
• High Wind37
• Extreme Cold/Wind Chill32
• Heavy Snow31
• Winter Storm26
• Drought10
• Flash Flood9
• Tornado9

• Blizzard01/09/1997

  Rolette

  1 death, $1.5M damage

  What happened

  The second blizzard in less than 1 week brought North Dakota to a virtual standstill. This blizzard didn't bring as much snow as the first storm, but the winds gusted from the northwest as high at 40 mph and they lasted for 3 days. Snowfall amounts from this storm varied from 1-2 inches in the southwest to 2-4 inches in the central. But the strong winds combined with this snow as well as the snow from the blizzard a few days earlier created widespread whiteout conditions that lasted for 3 days. There were numerous communities that halted mail delivery and cancelled school. In Emmons Co. every road was blocked by drifts, some as high as 18 feet. In McLean Co. there was a drift at the intersection of highways 83 and 37 that was 12 feet high and 150 yards long. It took snow plow operators working from both directions 10 hours to open. The Standing Rock Indian Reservation had severe hardship with snow drifts taller than buses blocking all the entrance roads. Most of the people on the reservation ran out of propane to heat their homes, and food shortages were widespread. Again, almost every major road in North Dakota was closed and plows pulled off. In Foster Co., the county road...

• Flood04/16/2023

  Mylo, Rolette County

  1 death, $20K damage

  What happened

  During the morning hours of April 16, a flood death (direct) occurred as a 54 year old female was driving along ND Highway 66 near the intersection of 47th Avenue NE, to the northwest of Mylo. The road was covered with water and ice due to snow melt flooding, and temperatures below freezing. The driver lost control of the vehicle, which went into the north ditch, rolled and overturned onto its roof in the flooded ditch. The driver died (direct).

• Thunderstorm Wind65 kt wind07/08/2005

  Belcourt, Rolette County

  1 death

  What happened

  Trailer home blown over by straight line winds. Trailer home was not tied down.

• TornadoEF3, 17.6 mi path, 250 yd wide07/07/2008

  San Haven, Rolette County

  3 injured, $1.5M damage

  What happened

  By North Dakota standards this was a long lived tornado that covered many miles.||A National Weather Service storm damage survey was completed in Rolette County on July 8, the day following the event. The storm survey concluded that the total path length was 17.6 miles, with a maximum width of 250 yards. The worst damage corresponded to low end EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with maximum estimated winds of 140 mph. ||Multiple tornado sightings were reported by local officials and residents along Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Highway number eight between 2:50 PM CDT and 3:10 PM CDT. The storm survey concluded that tree and structural damage along this corridor west and northwest of Belcourt corresponded to EF1 and EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, or wind speeds ranging from 90 to 130 mph, with a path width ranging from 50 to 75 yards. Greater damage was surveyed north and northeast of Belcourt. Along BIA Highway number seven, a tornado path width of 250 yards was observed with significant widespread tree damage, corresponding to an EF2 rating or winds of 115 to 130 mph. Northeast of Belcourt along BIA highway number five, a home sustained heavy damage and there was one...

• Blizzard04/24/2022

  Rolette

  $4M damage

  What happened

  Strong winds and heavy snow combined to produce a blizzard. In addition, periods of freezing rain occurred which accreted on power lines. This, combined with strong winds, led to extensive damage to power lines, cross arms, and poles, and thus widespread power outages.

• Thunderstorm Wind83 kt wind06/02/2026

  Belcourt, Rolette County

  2 injured

  What happened

  Thunderstorm wind damage reported approximately 4 miles northeast of Belcourt. Multiple buildings were damaged at a collection of properties in this area. A garage on the southwest side of the damage area lost a section of its roof that video and drone footage show was blown northeast across the property. The other main building with damage is a residential home at the center property that lost a significant portion of its roof ripped off. On the north and east side of this property, there were multiple hardwood trees damaged, some snapped about halfway down, but all generally extending to the northeast. A utility truck was parked at the center property and was facing south when the storm came through. A two by four plank of wood went through the windshield and both occupants of the truck had minor injuries. At the eastern property in this group, a shed collapsed and was blown into the edge of a wooded area to the northeast. Drone footage shows numerous trees damaged in this wooded area, extending a few hundred feet northeast of the buildings on the property. Winds were estimated at 95 mph.

• Rolla City ofServes 1,280 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Dunseith City ofServes 773 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+3 monitoring or reporting
• All Seasons Wd-System IVServes 670 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Rolette City ofServes 484 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• St John City ofServes 341 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations