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Jerauld County, South Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
49th of 66highest risk in South Dakota
$4Mexpected losses a year
19federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

Jerauld County, South Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 90% of US counties. It ranks 49th of 66 counties in South Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $4.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $2,559 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2019 (severe winter storm, snowstorm and flooding). 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 Jerauld County

Cold wave

Moderate
$1.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 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.
$319,646 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 16 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveModerate69.1
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low8.4
$1M
DroughtLow63.3
$320K
TornadoVery Low21.8
$255K
HailLow47.2
$216K
WildfireLow72.7
$198K
Ice stormModerate63.2
$142K
Strong windVery Low13.2
$98K
Winter weatherLow40.5
$43K
Heat waveVery Low7.6
$11K
LightningVery Low2.9
$9K
EarthquakeVery Low10.0
$9K
LandslideVery Low30.3
$291

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 moderate 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 Jerauld County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood8
Severe Storm7
Snowstorm2
Drought1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Jun 7, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 30, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 28, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 10, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 22, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 20, 2005Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 19
May 17, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Ice JamsMajor disaster
Apr 7, 1997Severe Flooding, Sever Winter Storms,Heavy Rains High WindsMajor disaster
Jan 10, 1997Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard ConditionsMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1996Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 26, 1995FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 14, 1995Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 3, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 225 storm reports in Jerauld County since 1957, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $19.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF4 tornado on June 18, 2014 near Lane.

16tornadoes
122hail reports, largest 3 inches
78damaging thunderstorm winds
6floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 18, 2014EF4Lane2 / 0
Jun 18, 2014EF2Wessington Spgs1 / 0
Jun 18, 2014EF2Crow Lake0 / 0
Jun 18, 2014EF2Crow Lake0 / 0
Jun 18, 2014EF1Crow Lake0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2019FloodCrow Lake$9M
Jun 18, 2014TornadoWessington Spgs$5M
Jul 7, 1996HailWessington Spgs$2M
Jun 24, 2003Thunderstorm WindWessington Spgs$1M
Jul 3, 2022HailCrow Lake$440K
Jun 18, 2014TornadoLane$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 2, 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 Jerauld County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (1 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest 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 Jerauld County

$150,800median home value (South Dakota $257,400, US $332,700)
1958median year homes were built (South Dakota 1980, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.6%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; 963 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
Beadle CountyLow19
Brule CountyLow19
Hand CountyVery Low20
Aurora CountyVery Low21
Sanborn CountyVery Low20
Buffalo CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Jerauld County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Jerauld County?

Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Jerauld County, about $1.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Jerauld County had?

Jerauld County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding in June 2019.

Is Jerauld County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 49th 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 Jerauld County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Jerauld 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 Jerauld County had?

NOAA records list 16 tornadoes in Jerauld County since 1950. The strongest was an EF4 tornado on June 18, 2014 near Lane. The weather service has also logged 122 hail reports and 6 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.