Larger cities are more at risk for flash floods, those occurring from heavy rainfall. This is because buildings, highways, driveways, and parking lots increase runoff by reducing the amount of rain absorbed by the ground. This runoff increases potential for a flash flood. In North Dakota, this includes cities such as Grand Forks, Fargo, Bismarck, and Minot. Other forms of flooding are more likely to occur near bodies of water, especially those with damns or levees. In North Dakota, this includes areas such as Devils Lake, Grand Forks, Fargo, Watford City, Minot, Valley City, Williston, Mandan, Wahpeton, Jamestown, and others. Use FEMA’s flood map to determine the flood risk in your area: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home
Flood
Flood: An overflow of water onto normally dry land. The inundation of a normally dry area caused by rising water in an existing waterway, such as a river, stream, or drainage ditch. Ponding of water at or near the point where the rain fell. Flooding is a longer term event than flash flooding: it may last days or weeks.
Flash flood: A flood caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours. Flash floods are usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains that rip through river beds, urban streets, or mountain canyons sweeping everything before them. They can occur within minutes or a few hours of excessive rainfall. They can also occur even if no rain has fallen, for instance after a levee or dam has failed, or after a sudden release of water by a debris or ice jam.
When flooding hits, it can be fast and overwhelming. Rising waters damage homes, roads, and farmland, leaving families scrambling to stay safe and dry. Even after the water recedes, the mess lingers—mold, contaminated water, ruined belongings, and tough questions about what can be saved. For farmers, crops and soil can be washed away in an instant. The emotional and financial burden can be immense, especially if you’re unsure where to turn or if your insurance doesn’t cover flood damage.
Floods involve an excessive amount of water and there are many reasons this can happen: Heavy rainfall, climate change affecting ocean levels, river or lake overflows, melting snow or ice in the spring, dam or levee leaks, and changes in land elevation during construction and development projects. Because of the many ways floods occur and how disastrous they can be, it’s recommended that you read about the causes of the specific type of flooding you’re at risk for in your area: https://www.floodsmart.gov/know-your-risk/what-is-a-flood
Be Prepared
- In addition to knowing your community’s resources for disaster response, you should be aware of any safe locations the community has designated for shelter in case you’re not home when a disaster hits. Some communities may concentrate their resources around community-based buildings such as churches, or safety may best be sought in durable brick or concrete buildings that can withstand high levels of water and wind. Take time to view our county resources tab and locate the resources available in your community.
- It’s also important to identify a route from your house, through your neighborhood, to a safer location within your community or in another community. Take time to view a map of your neighborhood and determine where the streets near your home lead to.
- Do you know if your community has a significant body of water such as a lake or river? Determine how far your home is from that body of water and if you’re in a flood zone.
- Your community may also have a dam or levee if there is a body of water nearby. This dam or levee is meant to protect from flooding but if it’s not properly maintained, it may leak or burst. Determine how far your home is from the dam or levee and ask the county or city government for maintenance information if necessary.
- Contact your home or renter’s insurer and add flood insurance to your policy. Flooding of any kind (including pipe bursts or plumbing failures) are automatically excluded from your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance and must be added to your policy for an additional cost. https://www.ncdoi.gov/nfip-summarycoverage/open
- Use the FEMA flood map to determine if your home is in a flood zone: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home
- Keep a flood kit on the highest story of your home including a battery powered radio, battery powered phone chargers, thick rubber gloves, snacks, and drinking water.
- Unplug all appliances and electronics and shut off utilities, if possible, to avoid electrocution.
- Install a sump pump if you don’t already have one. Ensure it’s working properly by regularly maintaining it and promptly fixing any issues that arise.
- Talk with a local plumber and electrician about how to prevent flooding and electrical shocks during floods.
- Always evacuate if you have the option. Make a plan with someone who lives outside your community who can provide shelter to you, or find other temporary shelter outside your community, in case a flood occurs.
- Plan an evacuation route within your home (to higher ground if you can’t evacuate) and within your community (if you can evacuate).
- If you are unable to evacuate, do not attempt to walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Find a safe dry place (the top of your car if on the road, the top floor of a building, or the roof if necessary) and stay there until rescuers respond.
- Keep important legal documents in a waterproof safe so they can survive a flood.
- Keep value property such as antiques and family heirlooms in waterproof storage so they can survive a flood.
- Create a disaster kit that can be moved quickly if evacuation is necessary.
- Ensure everyone in your family or household is aware of the disaster plan.
Loss and Need
Legal documents
A disaster victim may have lost their birth certificate, drivers license or other state ID, social security card, marriage license, name change documents, titles and deeds to property, and other legal documents in the disaster. Loss of these documents may make accessing public benefits and disaster resources more difficult.
Housing
- Housing can be partially or completely destroyed in a disaster. Renters whose housing has become unlivable may need assistance canceling a lease, finding replacement housing, obtaining rental assistance, transferring existing housing assistance to other housing authorities, or even getting timely repairs from their landlord.
- Disaster victims who own their home may need help filing insurance claims, appealing insurance denials or appraisals, applying for public repair assistance, preventing foreclosure, or recovering from a general contractor who isn’t complying with the repair contract.
- Any disaster victim who needs to access new housing because their residence was completely destroyed in a disaster may also face housing discrimination. If you feel you’ve experienced housing discrimination, please contact High Plains Fair Housing Center (hyperlink: https://www.highplainsfhc.org/).
Loved ones
If you’ve lost a loved one in a disaster, there are many legal aspects to handling their estate. The person may or may not have a will or other estate plan. They may have new assets not included in their current estate plan and they may have a business or other interests whose beneficiaries are uncertain.
Valuable property
Many households own valuable property such as cars, recreational vehicles, jewelry, antiques, and family heirlooms. These items can be lost or destroyed in a disaster and that can carry a monetary and emotional loss. Some of these items may be insured or may have liens on them.
Money
There may be public resources available to help with finding a job or replacing income with public benefits. Disaster victims may need help filing for unemployment, appealing wrongful terminations, or handling bank accounts of deceased household members.
Community
Disaster victims may experience job loss, education loss, housing loss, loss of friends, or cancellation of important community programs and resources. Replacing these community resources and social needs is essential to recovering from a disaster.
Legal Services of North Dakota’s Disaster Legal Services Program can assist North Dakota residents with most of their legal needs after a disaster.
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- Access to public benefits
- Insurance – through a volunteer attorney
- Bankruptcies
- Document replacement
- Domestic violence
- Family law and custody issues
- Access to housing or housing repair
- The death of a loved one and their estate
- Consumer issues such as disaster relief scams or contractor scams
Additional Resources
Resources by County
Get help after a disaster.
Disaster Kit
Grab a disaster kit to be prepared.
Become a Volunteer
Opportunities and training available.
Additional Resources
Visit Legal Aid Disaster Center (LADRC)