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Spink County, South Dakota

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

Very Low overall risk
35th of 66highest risk in South Dakota
$10Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Spink County, South Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 35th of 66 counties in South Dakota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $9.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,525 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2022 (severe storm, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 14 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $970,000 on 74 claims here.

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

Top risks in Spink County

$4.3 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 12 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$930,238 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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
Inland floodingVery Low25.3
$4M
Cold waveModerate66.6
$3M
TornadoLow34.0
$930K
HailLow70.5
$815K
Strong windVery Low16.2
$200K
WildfireLow66.5
$192K
Ice stormLow59.3
$189K
Winter weatherModerate63.3
$146K
Heat waveVery Low21.9
$105K
DroughtLow38.7
$85K
LightningVery Low8.1
$38K
EarthquakeVery Low16.0
$27K
LandslideVery Low26.1
$317

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood9
Severe Storm9
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Aug 2, 2022Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 7, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 2, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
May 13, 2010FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 22, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 20, 2005Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 2005Severe StormMajor disaster
Show all 21
May 17, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Ice JamsMajor disaster
Jun 1, 1998Flooding, Severe Storms, TornadoesMajor 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
Jun 21, 1994Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 3, 1986Severe 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 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 601 storm reports in Spink County since 1953, with 2 deaths and 0 injuries and about $45.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 20, 1957.

43tornadoes
263hail reports, largest 4 inches
194damaging thunderstorm winds
100floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 20, 1957F2–0 / 1
Jul 7, 1959F2–0 / 0
Jul 23, 1964F2–0 / 0
Jun 21, 1956F2–0 / 0
May 29, 1953F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2019FloodMansfield$44M
Apr 1, 2019FloodMansfield$1M
Apr 1, 2009FloodAshton$50K
Jun 20, 1957Tornado–$25K
May 29, 1953Tornado–$25K
Jun 18, 1954Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 7, 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 Spink County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (14 policies)
3.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$970,159paid on 74 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $330,171 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 Spink County

$123,300median home value (South Dakota $257,400, US $332,700)
1959median year homes were built (South Dakota 1980, US 1980)
71%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.3%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; 3,010 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
Brown CountyLow17
Beadle CountyLow19
Day CountyVery Low23
Clark CountyVery Low20
Hand CountyVery Low20
Faulk CountyVery Low15

Common questions about Spink County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Spink County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Spink County, about $4.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Spink County had?

Spink County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2022.

Is Spink County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 35th 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 Spink County?

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

NOAA records list 43 tornadoes in Spink County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 20, 1957. The weather service has also logged 263 hail reports and 100 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.