Buffalo County, South Dakota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Buffalo County, South Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 66 counties in South Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $4.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,178 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Buffalo County
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 77.4 | $2M | ||
| Inland flooding | 10.8 | $1M | ||
| Wildfire | 76.4 | $221K | ||
| Strong wind | 30.3 | $220K | ||
| Tornado | 20.2 | $179K | ||
| Hail | 25.9 | $72K | ||
| Drought | 41.0 | $54K | ||
| Winter weather | 50.7 | $49K | ||
| Heat wave | 15.3 | $27K | ||
| Ice storm | 31.7 | $27K | ||
| Lightning | 4.1 | $10K | ||
| Earthquake | 12.9 | $10K | ||
| Landslide | 6.0 | $7 |
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 relatively high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Buffalo County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 19
South Dakota also had 46 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1955
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 185 storm reports in Buffalo County since 1955, with 1 death and 10 injuries and about $26.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 16, 1992.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 16, 1992 | F3 | – | 8 / 0 |
| May 20, 1982 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1971 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 1, 1955 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 24, 1972 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 16, 1992 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Jun 1, 2019 | Flood | Ft Thompson | $985K |
| Jun 20, 2024 | Flash Flood | Gann Vly | $134K |
| Jul 3, 1971 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Jun 23, 2010 | Flash Flood | Gann Vly | $25K |
| Apr 1, 2019 | Flood | Ft Thompson | $17K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 2, 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 Buffalo County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Buffalo County
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; 578 housing units.
Compare in South Dakota
All 66 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Minnehaha County | Tornado | |
| Pennington County | Inland flooding | |
| Lincoln County | Tornado | |
| Brown County | Cold wave | |
| Brookings County | Inland flooding | |
| Meade County | Inland flooding | |
| Codington County | Inland flooding | |
| Lawrence County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Brule County | 19 | |
| Lyman County | 14 | |
| Hand County | 20 | |
| Jerauld County | 19 | |
| Hyde County | 13 |
Common questions about Buffalo County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Buffalo County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Buffalo County, about $2.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Buffalo County had?
Buffalo County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.
Is Buffalo County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 41st 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 Buffalo 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 Buffalo County had?
NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Buffalo County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 16, 1992. The weather service has also logged 85 hail reports and 15 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.