South Dakota natural disasters & FEMA declarations
SD · 18th most declarations of 51 states/DC
South Dakota has had 96 federally declared disasters since 1954, the 18th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (32 declarations, about 33% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Straight-line Winds" (Straight-Line Winds), on Apr 7, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for South Dakota, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 32 | 33% |
| Fire | 27 | 28% |
| Flood | 21 | 22% |
| Biological | 5 | 5% |
| Snowstorm | 4 | 4% |
| Winter Storm | 3 | 3% |
| Straight-Line Winds | 1 | 1% |
| Coastal Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Tornado | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 63 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 27 |
| Emergency (EM) | 6 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How South Dakota's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 1 |
| 1960s | 4 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 13 |
| 2000s | 24 |
| 2010s | 23 |
| 2020s | 20 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 7, 2026 | Straight-line Winds | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4903-SD |
| Mar 13, 2026 | Qury Fire | Fire | FM-5622-SD |
| Sep 11, 2025 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Flood | DR-4890-SD |
| Nov 1, 2024 | Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4842-SD |
| Aug 15, 2024 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | DR-4807-SD |
| Jul 6, 2023 | Flooding | Flood | DR-4718-SD |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near South Dakota
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to South Dakota in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has South Dakota had?
South Dakota has had 96 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1954, the 18th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in South Dakota?
The most common federally declared disaster type in South Dakota is "Severe Storm", with 32 declarations — about 33% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in South Dakota?
The most recent FEMA declaration in South Dakota in this snapshot was "Straight-line Winds" (Straight-Line Winds), declared Apr 7, 2026.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18