Wahpeton, North Dakota Flood Zones
Wahpeton faces spring flooding from the Red River of the North at the North Dakota-Minnesota border. The city relies on temporary flood barriers to supplement permanent flood protection during annual high-water events.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Richland County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $3.8M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Richland County
Richland County has been included in 23 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 15 earlier declarations since 1972.
These declarations affected communities across Richland County, including Wahpeton.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Richland County
Properties in Richland County have filed 223 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $2.3M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $10K.
Highest-Claim Years
1997
124 claims - $1.5M
2009
46 claims - $494K
2011
15 claims - $122K
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
157
Zone A
37
Zone AE
16
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Wahpeton
Properties in Wahpeton, ND are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Wahpeton
Wahpeton faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Wahpeton are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $3.8M.
Riverine flood risk in Wahpeton is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Wahpeton address.
Check Your Wahpeton Address
Enter any Wahpeton, ND address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupWahpeton, ND Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Wahpeton, ND?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Wahpeton are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Wahpeton?
If your Wahpeton property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Wahpeton?
Enter your Wahpeton address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
What type of flooding affects Wahpeton?
Wahpeton is primarily affected by river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Wahpeton address.
Has Wahpeton experienced major flooding events?
Richland County, where Wahpeton is located, has been part of 23 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Flooding in 2023. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Wahpeton?
Richland County has recorded 223 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $2.3M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1997, with 124 claims and $1.5M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Wahpeton.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026