Enter any address in Aurora County, South Dakota to see its FEMA flood zone
Flood events, including flash floods from heavy rainfall, are the primary flood character in Aurora County. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 16 flood events and 6 flash flood events. Recent heavy rainfall in June 2024 caused widespread flooding, with totals between 5 and 10 inches, and in some areas exceeding 15 inches, leading to major river flooding and extensive overland inundation.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced flooding with an average water depth of 1.0 foot and an average payout of $70,000. While Zone X properties have also filed claims, the average water depth was 0.0 feet with an average payout of $24,396. Homeowners in Zone A, or those located near streams and rivers, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
9 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Aurora County, South Dakota has recorded 22 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 6 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations, 10 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1976–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Jun 16, 2024 |
| Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 12, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Sep 9, 2019 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | May 21, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 13, 2019 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 11, 2011 |
| Flooding | Flood | Mar 10, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 20, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jun 21, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 20, 2024 | 2.54M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2020 | 5.00K |
| Flood | Jun 9, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 2, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 20, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 17, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 16, 2019 | 600.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 600.00K |
Flood — Jun 21, 2024
A multi-day significant heavy rainfall event from June 20-22 resulted in widespread rain totals between 5 and 10 inches with pockets in excess of 15 inches across portions of southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota. As rainfall reached area streams and rivers, major to record flooding was observed, devastating several towns and communities. Extensive overland flooding al...
Flash Flood — Jun 20, 2024
Clusters of thunderstorms with very high rainfall rates from 2 to 4 inches per hour developed by midday on June 20, and despite being transient, continued to redevelop through the evening and into the overnight hours. The primary focus occurred along Highway 18 in the afternoon southwest and south of Sioux Falls, then along Interstate 90 during the evening, and settled again to along the Highw...
Flood — Jun 20, 2024
A multi-day significant heavy rainfall event from June 20-22 resulted in widespread rain totals between 5 and 10 inches with pockets in excess of 15 inches across portions of southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota. As rainfall reached area streams and rivers, major to record flooding was observed, devastating several towns and communities. Extensive overland flooding al...
Flash Flood — Jun 9, 2020
Strong frontal forcing resulted in the redevelopment of elevated thunderstorms during the very early morning to the west of the band from the previous evening. Storms quickly became linear with the development of a couple of mesovortices, which were the focus of damaging winds while tracking northeast along the line. Heavy training rainfall brought areas of flooding.
Flood — Jun 9, 2020
A period of heavy rainfall returned high water levels along the James River. Monthly rainfall was above normal (4 to 6 inches) in the middle and upper portions of the river basin, with a concentrated rainfall from 2 to 3 inches around June 8-9.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Aurora County, South Dakota:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Aurora County, South Dakota that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.