Faulk County, South Dakota Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · SD
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 8th
Faulk County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 8.0, 8th national percentile), driven primarily by hail and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $3M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Faulk County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 8.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 8th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in hail (ice stones from severe thunderstorms that damage property and crops) at Low risk — $365K in expected annual loss and about 3.94 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $96K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 11.21 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $3M in expected annual loss for a population of 2K.
Beyond physical exposure, Faulk County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Faulk County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including 8 for flood events and 4 for severe storm events. The most recent was Flooding (flood), declared in July 2023.
Among 66 South Dakota counties, Faulk County ranks #50 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hail | Low | 3.94 / yr | $365K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $96K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 11.21 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 19.37 / yr | $49K |
| Drought | Low | 10.53 / yr | $124K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.51 / yr | $48K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.41 / yr | $173K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.89 / yr | $26K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $7K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 2.68 / yr | $45K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $641K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 32.30 / yr | $12K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $2 |
| 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
Faulk County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1969, most recently Flooding in July 2023. Most frequent causes: Flood (8), Severe Storm (4), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| July 2023 | Flood | Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2019 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding |
| February 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| May 2011 | Flood | Flooding |
| May 2010 | Flood | Flooding |
| March 2010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| July 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Faulk County?
Faulk County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 8.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 8th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Faulk County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hail (Low, $365K EAL), Wildfire (Low, $96K EAL), Cold Wave (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Faulk County compare to other South Dakota counties?
Faulk County ranks #50 of 66 South Dakota counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Faulk County had?
FEMA records 17 federal disaster declarations for Faulk County since 1969, most often 8 for flood events and 4 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. Faulk County's $3M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.