Fall River County, South Dakota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 41.5 | $3M | ||
| Wildfire | 93.8 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 42.2 | $480K | ||
| Tornado | 29.6 | $336K | ||
| Hail | 60.2 | $257K | ||
| Strong wind | 30.1 | $197K | ||
| Lightning | 43.8 | $125K | ||
| Winter weather | 71.4 | $92K | ||
| Earthquake | 35.1 | $75K | ||
| Heat wave | 13.4 | $20K | ||
| Drought | 28.3 | $13K | ||
| Ice storm | 12.7 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 58.5 | $2K | ||
| Avalanche | 4.8 | $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
Most recent
Show all 14
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2012 | EF2 | Provo | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 5, 1982 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jul 14, 1969 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 19, 1983 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 17, 1983 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 29, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hot Springs | $2M |
| Jun 19, 2010 | Hail | Hot Springs | $1M |
| Jun 22, 2012 | Tornado | Provo | $500K |
| Jun 17, 2014 | Hail | Hot Springs | $500K |
| Jun 11, 2013 | Hail | Hot Springs | $300K |
| Jun 5, 1982 | Tornado | – | $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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oglala Lakota County | 14 | |
| Custer County | 15 | |
| Dawes County, NE | 10 | |
| Niobrara County, WY | 3 | |
| Sioux County, NE | 12 |
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.