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Fall River County, South Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
25th of 66highest risk in South Dakota
$7Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fall River County, South Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 69% of US counties. It ranks 25th of 66 counties in South Dakota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $980 per resident. Since 1997 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (straight-line winds). Only 8 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 Fall River County

$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 160 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$480,263 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 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
Inland floodingLow41.5
$3M
WildfireModerate93.8
$2M
Cold waveLow42.2
$480K
TornadoLow29.6
$336K
HailLow60.2
$257K
Strong windLow30.1
$197K
LightningLow43.8
$125K
Winter weatherModerate71.4
$92K
EarthquakeVery Low35.1
$75K
Heat waveVery Low13.4
$20K
DroughtVery Low28.3
$13K
Ice stormVery Low12.7
$5K
LandslideVery Low58.5
$2K
AvalancheVery Low4.8
$1

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 high 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 Fall River County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm6
Flood3
Fire3
Coastal Storm1
Straight-Line Winds1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2018Vineyard FireFire management
Feb 1, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jul 30, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 8, 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 8, 2007Alabaugh Canyon FireFire management
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 14
Aug 13, 2000Flagpole Fire ComplexFire management
May 19, 2000Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 7, 1997Severe Flooding, Sever Winter Storms,Heavy Rains High WindsMajor disaster
Jan 10, 1997Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard ConditionsMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 694 storm reports in Fall River County since 1959, with 1 death and 3 injuries and about $6.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on June 22, 2012 near Provo.

30tornadoes
385hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
245damaging thunderstorm winds
27floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 22, 2012EF2Provo0 / 0
Jun 5, 1982F2–1 / 0
Jul 14, 1969F2–0 / 0
Jun 19, 1983F2–0 / 0
Aug 17, 1983F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 29, 2010Thunderstorm WindHot Springs$2M
Jun 19, 2010HailHot Springs$1M
Jun 22, 2012TornadoProvo$500K
Jun 17, 2014HailHot Springs$500K
Jun 11, 2013HailHot Springs$300K
Jun 5, 1982Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 31, 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 Fall River County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (8 policies)
4.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$25paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
1988costliest year, with $25 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 Fall River County

$193,200median home value (South Dakota $257,400, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (South Dakota 1980, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13.7%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; 4,093 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
Oglala Lakota CountyLow14
Custer CountyVery Low15
Dawes County, NEVery Low10
Niobrara County, WYVery Low3
Sioux County, NEVery Low12

Common questions about Fall River County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fall River County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fall River County, about $3.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Fall River County had?

Fall River County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1997, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Straight-Line Winds in April 2026.

Is Fall River County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 25th 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 Fall River County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Fall River 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 Fall River County had?

NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Fall River County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on June 22, 2012 near Provo. The weather service has also logged 385 hail reports and 27 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.