Natural Disasters in South Dakota: History & Risk Data
47,431 recorded disaster events across 365 ZIP codes.
State Statistics
Event Timeline
Hazard Breakdown
Most Affected ZIP Codes in South Dakota
📊 South Dakota Disaster Profile
South Dakota has experienced 47,431 documented natural disaster events across its 365 ZIP codes. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $7.9B. A total of 681 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.
⚠️ Hazard Distribution
Hailstorms lead South Dakota's disaster profile with 34,852 events (73%), causing $971.8M in property damage. Other significant hazards include severe wind events (4,674 events, $220.1M in damages), floods (2,326 events, $4.5B in damages), and tornadoes (2,297 events, $1.1B in damages). South Dakota has no recorded hurricanes in the dataset.
📍 Geographic Impact
The most disaster-affected areas in South Dakota include ZIP 57702 (1,102 events, $79.3M in damages), ZIP 57701 (617 events, $69M in damages), and ZIP 57730 (568 events, $17.6M in damages).
📈 Trends Over Time
Disaster frequency in South Dakota has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 1283% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2019 stands out as particularly active, with 2,648 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — South Dakota
What natural disasters occur in South Dakota?
South Dakota has experienced 47,431 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include hailstorms (34,852), severe wind events (4,674), floods (2,326), tornadoes (2,297), blizzards (2,126), wildfires (907), earthquakes (110), extreme cold events (94), and extreme heat events (45). The most common hazard is hailstorms, accounting for 73% of all events.
What are the most disaster-prone areas in South Dakota?
Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in South Dakota are ZIP 57702 (1,102 events), ZIP 57701 (617 events), ZIP 57730 (568 events), ZIP 57744 (547 events), and ZIP 57703 (524 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.
How much damage have natural disasters caused in South Dakota?
Natural disasters have caused a documented $7.9B in property damage across South Dakota. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.
About This Data
State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →