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Codington County, South Dakota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
7th of 66highest risk in South Dakota
$25Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 53homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Codington County, South Dakota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 66 counties in South Dakota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $25 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $879 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2023 (flooding). About 1 in 53 homes here carry federal flood insurance (243 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.6 million on 472 claims here, including $4.5 million for floods in 1997.

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

Top risks in Codington County

$12 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$4.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 13 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow65.2
$12M
Cold waveModerate82.3
$5M
TornadoModerate77.0
$4M
Ice stormHigh94.8
$2M
Strong windModerate64.1
$908K
HailLow70.2
$616K
Winter weatherHigh93.1
$594K
Heat waveVery Low38.5
$234K
WildfireLow71.0
$205K
DroughtLow36.6
$54K
EarthquakeVery Low21.7
$36K
LightningVery Low7.7
$27K
LandslideVery Low24.7
$209

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 low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood10
Severe Storm8
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jul 6, 2023FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 29, 2022Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 18, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Aug 2, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 20, 2005Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 21
May 17, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Ice JamsMajor disaster
Jun 1, 1998Flooding, Severe Storms, TornadoesMajor disaster
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
May 26, 1995FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 21, 1994Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 3, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1951

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 528 storm reports in Codington County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries and about $16.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on July 18, 1983.

35tornadoes
226hail reports, largest 3.75 inches
178damaging thunderstorm winds
86floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 18, 1983F3–0 / 0
May 12, 1984F3–0 / 0
Jun 19, 1979F2–0 / 0
Aug 6, 1962F2–0 / 0
Jul 20, 1951F2–4 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2019FloodWallace$7M
Jun 19, 1979Tornado–$3M
Jul 18, 1983Tornado–$3M
May 12, 1984Tornado–$3M
Jun 21, 2013Thunderstorm WindWatertown Arpt$574K
Apr 1, 2019FloodWallace$472K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 8, 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 Codington County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (243 policies)
19.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.6 millionpaid on 472 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $4.5 million 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 Codington County

$237,700median home value (South Dakota $257,400, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (South Dakota 1980, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.7%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; 13,533 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
Grant CountyVery Low20
Hamlin CountyVery Low20
Day CountyVery Low23
Deuel CountyVery Low22
Clark CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Codington County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Codington County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Codington County, about $12 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $4.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Codington County had?

Codington County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Flooding in July 2023.

Is Codington County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 7th 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 Codington County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 53 homes in Codington County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Codington County had?

NOAA records list 35 tornadoes in Codington County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on July 18, 1983. The weather service has also logged 226 hail reports and 86 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.