Deuel County, South Dakota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Deuel County, South Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 93% of US counties. It ranks 53rd of 66 counties in South Dakota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,281 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2023 (severe winter storms and snowstorm). 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 Deuel County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 9.3 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 46.7 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 32.4 | $870K | ||
| Hail | 49.9 | $386K | ||
| Wildfire | 69.9 | $256K | ||
| Ice storm | 64.4 | $242K | ||
| Strong wind | 17.6 | $226K | ||
| Heat wave | 30.7 | $209K | ||
| Winter weather | 53.8 | $108K | ||
| Drought | 38.0 | $82K | ||
| Earthquake | 6.3 | $9K | ||
| Lightning | 1.1 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 33.2 | $579 |
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 high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Deuel County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 22
South Dakota also had 46 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 269 storm reports in Deuel County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $12.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 30, 2022 near Bemis.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 2022 | EF3 | Bemis | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 28, 2025 | EF3 | Clear Lake | 2 / 0 |
| Jul 18, 1986 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 19, 1971 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 12, 2022 | EF2 | Gary | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2019 | Flood | Goodwin | $11M |
| Mar 22, 2009 | Flash Flood | Johnsonville | $200K |
| Jun 21, 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Clear Lake Muni Arpt | $193K |
| Apr 1, 2019 | Flood | Goodwin | $129K |
| May 21, 1977 | Tornado | – | $25K |
| Jul 18, 1986 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 10, 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 Deuel 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 Deuel 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; 2,155 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brookings County | 19 | |
| Codington County | 21 | |
| Yellow Medicine County, MN | 22 | |
| Grant County | 20 | |
| Lac qui Parle County, MN | 19 | |
| Hamlin County | 20 | |
| Lincoln County, MN | 12 |
Common questions about Deuel County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Deuel County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Deuel County, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Deuel County had?
Deuel County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm in February 2023.
Is Deuel County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 53rd 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 Deuel 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 Deuel County had?
NOAA records list 36 tornadoes in Deuel County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 30, 2022 near Bemis. The weather service has also logged 99 hail reports and 17 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.