Natural Disaster Risk in Bowman County

Natural Hazard Profile: Bowman County, North Dakota

Bowman County is located in the United States in North Dakota, home to roughly 2,993 residents. The county experiences extremely cold winters and short, warm summers with prairie wind exposure, with severe blizzards and spring flooding shaping the natural hazards faced by its communities. FEMA assesses risk at this county level, providing the baseline for every city and ZIP code within its boundaries.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Bowman County carries an overall risk score of 3.9/10, placing it in the low category. The area faces significant winter hazard exposure, with nor'easters, ice storms, or blizzards regularly challenging transportation networks and power infrastructure. The area also faces notable exposure to wildfire and cold wave.

Bowman County's risk score, slightly below the 4.7/10 state average and below the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Bowman County, the highest-scoring are winter, wildfire, and cold wave. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Bowman County carries a below-average natural disaster risk, reflecting fewer and less severe hazard exposures than typical U.S. communities. Even so, the area's primary risk — winter — warrants awareness and appropriate insurance coverage, as lower risk does not mean zero risk.