Ziebach County, South Dakota
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Ziebach County, South Dakota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 66 counties in South Dakota. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.5 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,874 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 February 2023 (severe winter storms and snowstorm). Only 2 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 Ziebach County
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 87.8 | $3M | ||
| Inland flooding | 8.9 | $640K | ||
| Strong wind | 52.1 | $312K | ||
| Wildfire | 76.6 | $160K | ||
| Hail | 31.5 | $68K | ||
| Winter weather | 63.3 | $54K | ||
| Tornado | 11.1 | $42K | ||
| Ice storm | 43.7 | $34K | ||
| Heat wave | 15.4 | $20K | ||
| Lightning | 8.5 | $15K | ||
| Drought | 30.5 | $14K | ||
| Earthquake | 10.4 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 23.2 | $87 |
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 very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Ziebach County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 19
South Dakota also had 46 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1962
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 494 storm reports in Ziebach County since 1962, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries and about $4.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 21, 1983.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 1983 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 2010 | EF2 | Dupree | 2 / 0 |
| May 12, 2009 | EF1 | Red Elm | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 2010 | EF1 | Red Elm | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 28, 2008 | EF1 | Red Elm | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 16, 2010 | Tornado | Dupree | $750K |
| May 26, 2019 | Flash Flood | Red Elm | $750K |
| Jun 5, 2008 | Flood | Glad Valley | $700K |
| Jun 6, 2008 | Flash Flood | Cherry Creek | $500K |
| Aug 1, 2011 | Hail | Dupree | $500K |
| May 22, 2019 | Flood | Red Scaffold | $300K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 27, 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 Ziebach 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 Ziebach 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; 885 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Meade County | 19 | |
| Dewey County | 14 | |
| Corson County | 14 | |
| Stanley County | 13 | |
| Perkins County | 19 | |
| Haakon County | 14 |
Common questions about Ziebach County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Ziebach County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Ziebach County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $640,107.
How many federal disasters has Ziebach County had?
Ziebach 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 Storms and Snowstorm in February 2023.
Is Ziebach County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 29th 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 Ziebach County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 500 homes in Ziebach 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 Ziebach County had?
NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Ziebach County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 21, 1983. The weather service has also logged 201 hail reports and 40 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.