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Hutchinson County, South Dakota

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

Relatively Low overall risk
14th of 66highest risk in South Dakota
$19Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Hutchinson County, South Dakota has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 52% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 66 counties in South Dakota. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,528 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 August 2024 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 15 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $309,000 on 14 claims here.

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

Top risks in Hutchinson County

$6.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 24 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$2.6 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
DroughtHigh98.3
$6M
Inland floodingLow35.2
$5M
TornadoModerate65.1
$3M
Cold waveModerate67.0
$2M
HailModerate74.1
$821K
Strong windLow44.7
$578K
Ice stormModerate72.1
$302K
Winter weatherModerate76.7
$221K
WildfireLow69.0
$201K
Heat waveVery Low24.5
$114K
EarthquakeVery Low25.9
$59K
LightningVery Low14.0
$59K
LandslideVery Low37.0
$659

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 very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood9
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 15, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor 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
May 10, 2013Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
May 13, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 10, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 22, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 22
Dec 20, 2005Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 7, 1997Severe Flooding, Sever Winter Storms,Heavy Rains High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1997Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 10, 1997Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard ConditionsMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1996Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 26, 1995FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 3, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1984Severe 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 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 489 storm reports in Hutchinson County since 1950, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $78.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 7, 1993 near Northwest Of.

45tornadoes
198hail reports, largest 4 inches
151damaging thunderstorm winds
93floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 7, 1993F2Northwest Of0 / 0
Jun 5, 1984F2–0 / 0
Jul 8, 1973F2–0 / 0
Jun 28, 1965F2–0 / 0
May 28, 1991F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2019FloodTripp$61M
Jul 9, 2009HailDimock$6M
Aug 7, 2000HailFreeman$1M
Jun 5, 2008Flash FloodDimock$1M
Apr 1, 2011FloodDimock$1M
Apr 18, 2023FloodDimock$800K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 25, 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 Hutchinson County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (15 policies)
16%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$308,702paid on 14 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $182,552 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 Hutchinson County

$163,000median home value (South Dakota $257,400, US $332,700)
1962median year homes were built (South Dakota 1980, US 1980)
78%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.6%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; 3,236 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
Yankton CountyLow14
Davison CountyVery Low13
Charles Mix CountyLow15
Turner CountyVery Low24
Bon Homme CountyVery Low14
McCook CountyLow19
Hanson CountyVery Low23
Douglas CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Hutchinson County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hutchinson County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Hutchinson County, about $6.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $5.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Hutchinson County had?

Hutchinson 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 Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in August 2024.

Is Hutchinson County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 14th 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 Hutchinson County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Hutchinson 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 Hutchinson County had?

NOAA records list 45 tornadoes in Hutchinson County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 7, 1993 near Northwest Of. The weather service has also logged 198 hail reports and 93 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.