Codington County, South Dakota Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · SD
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 62th
Codington County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 61.8, 62th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $25M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Codington County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 61.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 62nd national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.54 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $594K in expected annual loss and about 22.47 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 13.37 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $25M in expected annual loss for a population of 28K.
Beyond physical exposure, Codington County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Codington County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 10 for flood events and 8 for severe storm events. The most recent was Flooding (flood), declared in July 2023.
Among 66 South Dakota counties, Codington County ranks #7 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 0.54 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | High | 22.47 / yr | $594K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 13.37 / yr | $5M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.42 / yr | $4M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $205K |
| Hail | Low | 4.10 / yr | $616K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 1.68 / yr | $12M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.94 / yr | $908K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.63 / yr | $234K |
| Drought | Low | 4.43 / yr | $54K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $209 |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $36K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 33.30 / yr | $27K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Codington County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Flooding in July 2023. Most frequent causes: Flood (10), Severe Storm (8), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2023 | Flood | Flooding |
| June 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| November 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| June 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding |
| February 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| May 2010 | Flood | Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Codington County?
Codington County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 61.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 62th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Codington County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $2M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $594K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Codington County compare to other South Dakota counties?
Codington County ranks #7 of 66 South Dakota counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Codington County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Codington County since 1969, most often 10 for flood events and 8 for severe storm events. The most recent was Flooding, declared in July 2023.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Codington County's $25M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.