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Hyde County, South Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
54th of 66highest risk in South Dakota
$3Mexpected losses a year
13federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Hyde County, South Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 94% of US counties. It ranks 54th of 66 counties in South Dakota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $2.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,115 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). No 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 Hyde County

$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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.
$657,623 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$470,561 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 365 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low11.5
$1M
Cold waveLow47.9
$658K
WildfireLow83.7
$471K
TornadoVery Low17.8
$150K
HailVery Low29.2
$86K
DroughtLow42.8
$65K
Strong windVery Low9.0
$49K
Ice stormLow32.3
$28K
Winter weatherLow28.7
$21K
Heat waveVery Low10.8
$15K
EarthquakeVery Low9.1
$7K
LightningVery Low0.6
$2K
LandslideVery Low1.8
$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 relatively 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 Hyde County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm4
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 10, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 2005Severe StormMajor disaster
Apr 7, 1997Severe Flooding, Sever Winter Storms,Heavy Rains High WindsMajor disaster
Jan 10, 1997Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard ConditionsMajor disaster
May 26, 1995FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 13
Mar 14, 1995Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 327 storm reports in Hyde County since 1963 and about $8.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on August 5, 1968.

16tornadoes
146hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
146damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 5, 1968F1–0 / 0
May 22, 2010EF1Highmore Arpt0 / 0
Jun 18, 2014EF1Stephan0 / 0
Jun 7, 2020EF1Holabird0 / 0
Jun 19, 1975F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2019FloodHolabird$8M
Jul 18, 1994HailHighmore To$1M
Apr 1, 2019FloodHolabird$178K
Aug 5, 1968Tornado–$25K
Jun 19, 1975Tornado–$25K
Jul 5, 2022Thunderstorm WindHighmore$10K

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 Hyde County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year

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 Hyde County

$181,600median home value (South Dakota $257,400, US $332,700)
1960median year homes were built (South Dakota 1980, US 1980)
78%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.5%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; 617 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
Hughes CountyVery Low15
Lyman CountyVery Low14
Hand CountyVery Low20
Potter CountyVery Low14
Faulk CountyVery Low15
Buffalo CountyVery Low19
Sully CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Hyde County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Hyde County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Hyde County, about $1.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $657,623.

How many federal disasters has Hyde County had?

Hyde County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Hyde County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 54th 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 Hyde 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 Hyde County had?

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Hyde County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on August 5, 1968. The weather service has also logged 146 hail reports and 19 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.