FEMADR-1981-NDMajor disasterDeclared May 10, 2011
DR-1981-ND: North Dakota Flooding
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for North Dakota (DR-1981-ND) on May 10, 2011 for the incident of February 14, 2011 to July 20, 2011; it covers 48 designated areas. FEMA had approved $95.8 million for 7,468 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $224.4 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1981-ND (also written FEMA-1981-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- North Dakota
- Incident
- Flood: Flooding
- Incident period
- February 14, 2011 to July 20, 2011
- Declared
- May 10, 2011
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 8
- Place in the year
- the first of 2 major disaster declarations for North Dakota in 2011
- Status
- closed out on May 28, 2021
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- November 21, 2011
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
Which areas are covered, and for what?
| Designated area | Individuals and Households | Public Assistance | Hazard Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Benson (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Billings (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Bottineau (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Burke (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Burleigh (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cass (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Cavalier (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Dickey (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Divide (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Eddy (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Fort Berthold Indian Reservation | — | Yes | Yes |
| Foster (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Grand Forks (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Grant (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Griggs (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Kidder (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| LaMoure (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Logan (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| McHenry (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| McIntosh (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| McKenzie (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| McLean (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Mercer (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Morton (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mountrail (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Nelson (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Pembina (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Pierce (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Ramsey (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ransom (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Renville (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Richland (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rolette (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Sargent (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Sheridan (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Sioux (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Spirit Lake Reservation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota | — | Yes | Yes |
| Steele (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Stutsman (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Towner (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Traill (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation | — | Yes | Yes |
| Walsh (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Ward (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wells (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
| Williams (County) | — | Yes | Yes |
An area can be added to a declaration after the first day, or have a program added: this table is FEMA's current list.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
How much has FEMA approved?
7,468households approved for help (IHP)
$95.8 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$93.6 millionof it for housing
$2.1 millionof it for other needs
$224.4 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$71.5 millionHazard Mitigation Grant Program obligated
Individual assistance figures as of October 1, 2026, public assistance as of May 17, 2026. FEMA updates both as applications are decided.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2); FEMA, OpenFEMA FEMA Web Disaster Summaries (v1). Data as of September 29, 2026.
FEMA's page for this declaration
FEMA's own page for this declaration is fema.gov/disaster/1981. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on November 21, 2011.