Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · SD
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 50th
Oglala Lakota County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 49.8, 50th national percentile), driven primarily by wildfire and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Oglala Lakota County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 49.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 50th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 2.62 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at High risk — $545K in expected annual loss and about 38.75 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $9M in expected annual loss for a population of 14K.
Beyond physical exposure, Oglala Lakota County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low 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.
Among 66 South Dakota counties, Oglala Lakota County ranks #10 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $4M |
| Strong Wind | High | 2.62 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | High | 38.75 / yr | $545K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 4.84 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 15.17 / yr | $59K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 1.55 / yr | $2K |
| Hail | Low | 5.42 / yr | $182K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.60 / yr | $473K |
| Drought | Low | 58.21 / yr | $37K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 1.39 / yr | $85K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $24K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.86 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3K |
| 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
FEMA's declaration records (1953–present) list no county-level federal disaster declarations for Oglala Lakota County. Statewide emergency declarations may still have applied.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Oglala Lakota County?
Oglala Lakota County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 49.8 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 50th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Oglala Lakota County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Wildfire (Medium, $4M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $1M EAL), Lightning (High, $545K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Oglala Lakota County compare to other South Dakota counties?
Oglala Lakota County ranks #10 of 66 South Dakota counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Oglala Lakota County had?
FEMA's declaration records (1953–present) list no county-level major disaster declarations for Oglala Lakota County. Statewide emergency declarations may still have applied.
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. Oglala Lakota County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.