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Bon Homme County, South Dakota

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
43rd of 66highest risk in South Dakota
$7Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Bon Homme County, South Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 43rd of 66 counties in South Dakota. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $7.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,034 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Bon Homme County

Drought

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 25 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtModerate85.7
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low8.9
$2M
Cold waveLow50.8
$1M
TornadoLow33.2
$881K
HailLow52.2
$410K
Strong windLow24.9
$338K
Ice stormModerate62.4
$215K
Winter weatherLow59.8
$128K
Heat waveVery Low23.2
$119K
WildfireVery Low53.5
$83K
LightningVery Low13.3
$67K
EarthquakeVery Low13.6
$20K
LandslideVery Low35.7
$685

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Bon Homme County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Flood5
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2022Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 22, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 20, 2005Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 7, 1997Severe Flooding, Sever Winter Storms,Heavy Rains High WindsMajor disaster
Jan 10, 1997Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard ConditionsMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1996Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Show all 14
May 26, 1995FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1984Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency

South Dakota also had 46 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1954

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 488 storm reports in Bon Homme County since 1954, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $35.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 5, 1962.

26tornadoes
229hail reports, largest 5 inches
125damaging thunderstorm winds
104floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 5, 1962F3–0 / 0
Jun 26, 1965F3–0 / 0
Jun 18, 1954F3–0 / 0
Apr 20, 1985F2–0 / 0
May 5, 2007EF2Tyndall0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2019FloodPerkins$28M
Mar 13, 2019FloodPerkins$1M
Jun 21, 2024FloodPerkins$1M
Sep 4, 2016Thunderstorm WindSpringfield$1M
Jun 5, 1962Tornado–$250K
Jun 26, 1965Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 28, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Bon Homme County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (1 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$24,184paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $24,184 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Bon Homme County

$134,100median home value (South Dakota $257,400, US $332,700)
1958median year homes were built (South Dakota 1980, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.5%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 2,842 housing units.

Compare in South Dakota

All 66 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Minnehaha CountyModerateTornado
Pennington CountyLowInland flooding
Lincoln CountyLowTornado
Brown CountyLowCold wave
Brookings CountyLowInland flooding
Meade CountyLowInland flooding
Codington CountyLowInland flooding
Lawrence CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Yankton CountyLow14
Charles Mix CountyLow15
Knox County, NEVery Low16
Hutchinson CountyLow22

Common questions about Bon Homme County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Bon Homme County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Bon Homme County, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Bon Homme County had?

Bon Homme County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in August 2024.

Is Bon Homme County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 43rd highest of 66 in South Dakota. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Bon Homme County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Bon Homme County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Bon Homme County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 5, 1962. The weather service has also logged 229 hail reports and 104 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.